The dates and venues of the new Steps tour with Sophie Ellis Bextor in support

Nineties dance pop heroes Steps return with their sixth studio album What the Future Holds on November 27.

Lee Latchford-Evans, Claire Richards, Lisa Scott-Lee, Faye Tozer and Ian “H” Watkins will also be heading out on an arena tour to celebrate.

Their special guest will be Murder on the Dance Floor chart-topper Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

There will be cuts from Steps’ new album at each of the shows and you can count on the old-school favourites getting an airing too: Better the Devil You Know, 5, 6, 7, 8, Tragedy, Chain Reaction, Stomp and all the other hits from the group’s heyday.

Their most ambitious album to date What The Future Holds showcases the big melodic choruses of their top-tier bangers but also brings back the harmony-laden ballads and some atmospheric mid-tempos.

What the Future Holds is an album that shows both a deeper shade of blue and a brighter future.Speaking of the album and tour, Steps said: “We will never forget the past with Steps, it’s what made us, but we’ve got to look to the future too.

“We were so thrilled that the last album was a success and it gave us a new lease of life.

“Performing live has always been our favourite part of being in Steps. We had the most fun of our career on the last tour and we’re already planning for the next one to be our biggest spectacle yet.

“We’re also thrilled to have Sophie Ellis-Bextor as our special guest on the What The Future Holds 2021 Tour. Her catalogue is full of floor-fillers and she knows how to get any party started.

“We are so excited for everyone to hear this new album and to come join us on tour.”

Launching during the halcyon days of pop in 1997 with their line-dancing classic 5,6,7,8, Brit award winners Steps set about re-turfing the music landscape via 14 UK top 10 singles and three multi-platinum albums in three years including #1’s Tragedy and Stomp.

Fast forward 20 years, the band returned with the mighty Tears On The Dancefloor, which hit #1 on the physical and iTunes album charts and went Gold within a matter of weeks, becoming the second biggest-selling independent album of 2017 behind Stormzy.

Their subsequent Party On The Dancefloor tour saw the band sell out 22 arenas.Some 23 years on from their debut, 2020 sees them return with What The Future Holds.

In between members of Steps have pursued solo careers with Faye hitting the stage in Tell Me on a Sunday and Me and My Girl. She also appeared in pantomime.

Claire was a contestant on the second series of Popstar to Operastar before being voted off in the semi finals. She also took part in Celebrity Big Brother, coming in fourth place.

The dates for 2021 are:November 2 – FlyDSA Arena, SheffieldNovember 3 – Motorpoint Arena, NottinghamNovember 5 – Resorts World Arena, BirminghamNovember 8 – Utilita Arena, NewcastleNovember 11 – AO Arena, ManchesterNovember 13 – P&J Live, AberdeenNovember 15 –The SSE Arena, BelfastNovember 18 – M&S Bank Arena, LiverpoolNovember 19 – First Direct Arena, LeedsNovember 22 – The SSE Hydro, GlasgowNovember 25 – Brighton CentreNovember 26 – The O2, LondonNovember 29 – Motorpoint Arena, CardiffDecember 1 – International Centre, Bournemouth

General ticket sales start on Friday September 18 at 10am.

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