HE is a world class entertainer who is ranked among the biggest selling artists of all time.

Rod Stewart's sold out The Hits tour arrives at the home of Hampshire cricket a week today.

The rock superstar will be belting out his array of hit songs at the Ageas Bowl next Friday night.

His tartan army of fans in Hampshire will be treated to the show as part of an eight-date UK stadium tour.

Rod said: "Performing under the stars for my British friends and fans will be a fun party because let’s face it the home crowd bring out the best in me. Together, we'll make sure there will be some special memories."

With his singular voice, narrative songwriting and passionate live performances, Rod Stewart has built one of the most successful and enduring music careers of all time. In a career spanning more than five decades, he has amassed sales of more than 200 million albums and singles worldwide.

The many timeless hits include Do Ya Think I’m Sexy, Maggie May, Tonight’s the Night and You Wear It Well.

Throughout his career, Rod has garnered two inductions into the coveted Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, won a Grammy, the ASCAP Founders Award for songwriting, and in 2007 was bestowed Commander of the British Empire (CBE) by the Queen.

His latest album Another Country was released in October. It follows the huge success of 2012’s ‘Time’ which entered the UK Albums Chart at No. 1, setting a new British record for the longest gap between chart-topping albums by an artist - while in the US, it marked Stewart’s highest-charting album of original material since 1979.

In 2012, Stewart became a New York Times Bestselling author with the release of his autobiography ‘Rod’.

Support for the Southampton date comes from Rod's daughter's band The Sisterhood. US-based Ruby Stewart and Alyssa Bonagura produce a soulful and poetic signature sound.