ROD STEWART ANNOUNCES FAREWELL TOUR THE FINAL ENCORE

Sir Rod Stewart has announced The Final Encore, a tour marking his retirement from touring after six decades performing. Two extra UK dates have been added to the almost sold-out run amid strong demand for tickets, with the set list still being finalised. Stewart discussed the tour during a visit to the Dolce & Gabbana store on Old Bond Street in London, arriving with two pairs of trousers for alteration and saying, "Too long in the leg." He asked staff to give a £280 bottle of perfume to his companion, and said a £3,800 silver sequinned jacket was "lovely" but "far too heavy for the stage."

Stewart said he treats his voice "like the Crown Jewels" and recalled the tenor Luciano Pavarotti describing himself as a prisoner of his own voice. He said that waking up with "an itch" can mean having to cancel a show, and that he is "totally paranoid about runny noses now." He has taken to wearing white gloves when he goes out, a practice he said Michael Jackson adopted to avoid catching colds and flu. Stewart said his wife, Penny Lancaster, has told him to cut back on drinking as part of looking after his health, alongside regular exercise and plenty of sleep.

Stewart said, "At 81, it's quite remarkable," referring to ticket sales for the farewell tour. He said, "I can't jump around like I used to when I was 32." He added that he believes his voice has improved with age, saying, "I think the audience knows that, vocally, I'm better now than I've ever been." Stewart said "a few of the big voices have gone," without naming further examples.