DAVID ESSEX is heading back out on tour this Autumn with dates planned for Southampton and Bournemouth.

The internationally renowned singer, composer and actor has announced his first major tour in over four years.

And he says it will probably be his last!

The 21 date UK tour, taking place in November, includes Southampton Mayflower Theatre on Monday November 7 and The BIC, Bournemouth on Friday November 18.

Incredibly, it will see him perform much loved hits spanning over his entire 50 year repertoire.

David's big break came in 1971 when he was cast as the lead - and so the first person permitted to play Jesus Christ by the Lord Chamberlain's office - in the massive West End hit Godspell. He received major awards and some ecstatic reviews which saw him lead a cast at the Roundhouse and then at the West End for two years.

A pop career soon followed for the teen heart-throb - and he scored huge hits with tracks such as Rock On, Gonna Make You A Star, Hold Me Close, Lamp Light, Oh What A Circus, Silver Dream Machine and A Winter's Tale.

He had a successful film career, notable movies including That'll Be The Day, Stardust and Silver Dream Racer. He also continued to perform in the theatre, starring in roles including Che Guevara in Evita.

During his heyday, David Essex OBE was Britain's biggest pop pin-up. Indeed, at the height of his fame police would use dustbin lids for shields. And at one concert, a fan risked her life by jumping 20 feet from a box seat just to get near him - and survived.

The enduring star - now aged 68, has enjoyed a remarkable career that has combined concerts, records, theatre, composing, films and television with striking success. He has written, recorded and produced albums that have sold millions of copies worldwide. He had twenty-three Top 30 singles in Britain alone. These include the Grammy© nominated Rock On which not only topped the charts in Britain and the USA but sold over one million copies. Mayhem ensued throughout the UK, with crowds for his concerts resembling Beatlemania and traffic stopping whenever he appeared.

David has continued to this day to produce and write albums including 2013’s Reflections and has contributed to stage and screen with the likes of Silver Dream Machine taken from Silver Dream Racer, in which he starred.

Acting credits also include That'll Be The Day, its sequel Stardust, Traveller, The Guvnors, Black Prince and more recently BBC TV's EastEnders as the head of the Moon family. Theatre credits include outstanding performances in Evita, Boogie Nights 2, Footloose, Andrew Lloyd Webber's Aspects Of Love, plus his own musicals Mutiny! and All The Fun Of The Fair.

Tickets via www.gigsandtours.com and www.ticketmaster.co.uk

David is currently appearing at London’s Dominion Theatre in the stage version The War Of The Worlds as The Voice Of Humanity until April 30th. This is the first time since he recorded on the original double album in 1978 that he has appeared with the production.

David has also written a bestselling poetry book Travelling Tinker Man & Other Rhymes plus two successful autobiographies A Charmed Life and Over The Moon, the latter a Number 1 Sunday Times Bestseller.

David Essex is the only artiste in the world to have achieved success in all areas of entertainment and this new tour will celebrate just that. On the tour David said:

"I'm looking forward to getting back on the road with my band for probably my final concert tour, I'll be missing you.”