Robbie: Invited ABC after agent saw a show

"It's like being an elder statesman," he said. "It's nice to be asked and it's an accolade.

"My manager got a call after an agent had seen a one-off gig that we did.

"They asked if we would be interested in being the opening act for somebody and we said yes.

"A fax appeared with the initials RW on it. I thought 'Who is that? Roger Waters?'"

Fry said he was surprised to be asked, but plans to give younger fans a taste of his high-energy, new romantic style.

Entertaining

"Robbie Williams will be the man everyone has come to see, but he needs somebody to entertain people on their way in," he said.

"Originally I thought if you get invited to somebody's wedding you should not try to outdo the bride.

"But when I talked about it to a friend, they said 'Why do you think they've asked you?'"

Fry is preparing to present a Radio 2 series about the new romantic movement - of which he was a leading light - from 17 May.

Sell-out tour

In it, he will speak to leading figures from the early 80s.

In 1998, ABC joined fellow 80s stars Culture Club and The Human League for a sell-out tour.

Fry had taken his band back on the road in 1997 - the first time they had toured since their heyday.

ABC will be the first act on stage in Dublin, Cardiff, Milton Keynes, Manchester and Glasgow in July and August.

They will also play a one-off headline show at Rochester Castle, Kent, on 26 July.