Elbow have revealed that their new album will feature a guest appearance from an esteemed English actor.

Singer Guy Garvey outlined details of the collaboration in an interview with XFM, but refused to reveal the person’s identity.

“We've got a pretty special guest on the next record.” he said. “Let's just say it is a very loved old English actor who's gonna appear on the record with us.

“Because it is a nostalgic song I wanted it to be from the point of view of an old man and we thought the easiest way to do that is to get an old man to sing the first couple of verses, so that's what we've done."

Elbow are currently putting the finishing touches to the follow-up to their 2008 Mercury Prize winning album ‘The Seldom Seen Kid’.

Meanwhile, the Manchester band are set to embark on a UK arena tour in the new year.

(by Jason Gregory)