The Britney Spears comeback tour is headed for London after the pop singer announced today that she will perform at the 02 Arena next summer.

The paparazzi favourite will bypass the rest of Europe, playing just two shows on June 3 and 4 in the capital.

They will be her first UK concerts in five years, but British fans can get a taste of what she will offer when she flies into London this weekend. The singer is booked to perform live on ITV talent show The X Factor on Saturday night to promote her new album, Circus.

Spears’s sixth studio album, and first since her protracted public meltdown, is out on Monday. The release coincides with her 27th birthday, but the perennial chart-topper has ruled out the kind of wild celebrations she was once known for.

In an interview with music bible Rolling Stone, the mother-of-two confessed: “I feel like an old person now.

“I go to bed at, like, 9:30pm every night, and I don't go out or anything, you know what I mean? I just feel like an old fart."

After two involuntary admissions to psychiatric hospitals, her father, Jamie Spears, was awarded conservatorship in February and remains in control of her financial and personal life.

Her two sons live with her former husband Kevin Federline, although Spears now has visiting rights.

As well as recording Circus, Spears has shown she has bounced back by bagging three gongs at September’s MTV Video Music Awards and the title of Best Act and Best Album at last month’s European MTV awards.

Tickets for her 02 Arena shows go on sale on December 5, but fans can register at Britneyspears.com in order to buy them the day before.

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