By Hilary Porter

HOT on the heels of his thrilling performance at Let's Rock on Southampton Common last week 80's icon Rick Astley is set to return to the South Coast.

He will play Portsmouth Guildhall on April 6 and Bournemouth International Centre on April 7 next year.

The Never Gonna Give You Up singer spoke exclusively to the Daily Echo about his latest revival and revealed he has been surprised at the success of his latest album 50, recorded to celebrate his big birthday. Since it's release in February when it debuted at No 1, his feet have hardly touched the ground.

He said: "I haven't made any new material in donkeys years - ten years or more, and knowing I was going to turn 50, I thought I would before I get old and grey.

"Some people buy a Harley and drive across America, get a second wife or learn to surf but I thought I'd do this and do something for me."

"I've been doing gigs through the years and fans kept saying you need to make something new. They still love the old songs but there's room for new stuff."

Rick performed two of his new tracks at Let's Rock: 'Keep Singing' and 'I've Got Angels on My Side', which went down a storm.

"I decided to play those two tracks as they've been hammered on the radio," said Rick.

The chart-topping album was recorded in his own home studio at the back of his kitchen which he called his "man cave".

Explaining how the album came about he said: "Half way through recording it I went to the record label I use to be with to see if they were interested. I said to them, 'This is it and I don't want to change it and thankfully they liked it!"

Rick has been more surprised than anyone by his commercial success after the album shot to the top of the UK charts.

"I think trying to get an artist to the top of the charts who had records out 20 years ago is a bit of a fiction. Ok, Take That did it on a bigger scale , but there is a parallel in that sometimes people are ready to give it a go again.

"My recording studio is at the back of my kitchen - I don't have to book time at other studios. I can go in there when I want to. If I want to get up early and do something in there I can. I can do all the vocals when I fancy it, and I've played all the instruments on the album too. I've enjoyed myself in my little 'man cave'!"

So what is it about the 80's decade that makes people come back for more?

"It was all about the songs and it changed things in people's minds and hearts as it was the decade when we got the visuals too with the start of music videos; If I say the song 'Rio' you automatically think of Simon Le Bon on the front of a yacht! "

Rick said he really enjoyed playing retro festivals like Let's Rock.

"The atmosphere at Let's Rock is always right. It's easy. You don't have to win people over - they are already in the mood! People come with a 'let's just enjoy the day' attitude. You don't have to love every band and there is none of the 'impress me then' attitude. You can get away with murder sometimes! "

Despite his old and new material going down a storm Rick told the Daily Echo he doesn't expect to be topping the singles chart any time soon.

"We've had two songs hammered on the radio, but I'm never going to have a top single because I'm too old.

"If you look at the top 30, there's not a single song by someone my age. People of a certain age don't buy singles anyway- they buy an album."

He's enjoyed his second shot at superstardom though.

"I'm very busy, but having said that nothing's really changed.

"If I put petrol in the car on the way home, I won't be recognised and that's perfect. I don't stop traffic and I'm glad."

Tickets for the BIC: 0844 576 3000

Tickets for Portsmouth Guildhall: 0844 847 2362