He’s equally at home on the sports field, leading thousands of football or Cricket fans in a rousing rendition of the national anthem as he is on stage in some of the world’s best known operas.

But Sean Ruane really will be at home when he performs at Bacup’s Royal Court Theatre, with a specially created programme of music timed perfectly for Valentine’s Day – Lipstick Love Songs.

The concert will be his first in Rossendale since January 2006, marking the start of a busy year – although his first international dates may be in doubt.

“I’m home for a few weeks, then off to Egypt – hopefully,” he said, referring to the ongoing protests.

“There’s a few concerts in the south of the country, Sharm El Sheikh, and then across to Petra in Jordan.

"I’ve got a bit of time while I’m there and it’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to go, so I’m really looking forward to that and hope we do go.

“I’ve got a lot lined up, with that in March and Madame Butterfly in May, and then it’s right through to the end of the year.

“But I just love being home, where I can have a proper cup of tea and toast on a settee.”

Bacup-born Clarets fan Sean, whose opera career was launched when he fell in love with the soundtrack to a Pretty Polly advert, became England Cricket’s lucky mascot when he sang for them during the famous 2005 Ashes series.

And with the Olympics coming up next year he’s trying to meet up with fellow Lancastrian, film director Danny Boyle who will be directing the Games’ opening ceremony.

“I’ve been told which pub his family goes to, and apparently there’s a folder there full of people’s names who want to get hold of him,” said Sean, who has achieved international acclaim as one of the best tenors of his generation.

“It makes sense, with having done so many high- profile sports events, and I would love to sing for the Games opening ceremony.”

Lipstick Love Songs features specially arranged versions of the songs Sean enjoys singing in the bath, such as Time To Say Goodbye and Autumn Leaves, inspired by opera such as Andrea Bocelli and Pavarotti, through to classic crooners Matt Monro, as well as ‘chat’ about his recent work.

And he’s hoping to be able to take the ‘ambitious’ project on the road.

“As each year goes by, I get more and more nervous about doing a concert at home, whether people were still interested in me, but ticket sales have done really well,” the former St Theodore’s RC High School, Burnley, pupil said.

“It’s a great feeling. I support a lot of local businesses and my friends are here, and I play football with the lads which is what I like; the normality of being home.”

* Sean Ruane is at Bacup's Royal Court Theatre on Sunday, February 13 from 7pm. Tickets are priced at £10 and are available from the box office on 01706 874080.