Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra have announced their annual musical excursion around the UK and Ireland for 2018. Tickets are on sale from 10am today.

Highlights of the 35-date tour, now in its 23rd year, includes a performance at the Watford Colossum on November 9.

Soft Cell frontman Marc Almond will be accompanying Jools for the UK tour as a special guest, with the exception of 1 December at the Royal Albert Hall where Chris Difford and Pauline Black & Arthur ‘Gaps’ Hendrickson of The Selecter will join Jools and the Rhythm & Blues Orchestra on stage instead. In his 36-year career, Marc has sold over 30 million records worldwide with his list of hit songs including Say Hello, Wave Goodbye, Touch and, of course, Tainted Love. Marc has also collaborated with the likes of Gene Pitney, Tony Visconti and Burt Bacharach, as well as Jools who Marc previously toured with in 2014. He was awarded an OBE this year for his services to arts and culture.

Also performing with Jools will be vocalists Ruby Turner and Louise Marshall as well as original Squeeze member Gilson Lavis on drums with the Rhythm & Blues Orchestra.

Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN. Details: 01923 571 102, watfordcolosseum.co.uk