Lady Gaga will be joined by The Darkness during her newly announced European tour dates - including performances in London and Manchester

The world’s biggest pop star has already sold out the Born This Way Ball tour in Asia and Australia and is bringing her blend of pop and provocative costume changes to the UK in September.

She’s set to be joined by another musical act who know a thing or two about unusual attire – The Darkness.

The British rockers scored a sensational hit single back in 2003 with I Believe In A Thing Called Love, a song that showcased lead singer Justin Hawkins' ability to hit the high notes as well as his glam rock sartorial sensibilities.

A follow up Christmas single – Christmas Time (Don’t Let The Bells End) – repeated the feat by getting to number 2 in the charts, but since then The Darkness’ popularity has appeared to wane - although sharing a stage with Lady Gaga as she continues her third tour will do them no harm in this respect.

The 110 date world tour, in support of her second album 2011’s Born This Way, has already seen Gaga grace South Korea, Japan, New Zealand and Australia.

The European dates in full:

August 14 - Sofia, Bulgaria (Vasil Levski National Stadium)
August 16 - Bucharest, Romania (Arena Nationala Stadium)
August 18 - Vienna, Austria (Wiener Stadthalle)
August 21 - Vilnus, Lithuania (Vingis Park)
August 23 - Riga, Latvia (Riga Mezaparks)
August 25 - Tallinn, Estonia (Tallinn Song Festival Grounds)
August 27 - Helsinki, Finland (Hartwall Arena)
August 30 - Stockholm, Sweden (Ericsson Globe)
September 02 - Copenhagen, Denmark (Parken Stadium)
September 04 - Koln, Germany (Lanxess Arena)
September 08 - London, UK (Twickenham Stadium)
September 11 - Manchester, UK (MEN Arena)
September 15 - Dublin, Ireland (Aviva Stadium)
September 17 - Amsterdam, Netherlands (Zeigge Dome)
September 22 - Paris, France (Stade de France)
September 24 - Hannover, Germany (TUI Arena)
September 26 - Zurich, Switzerland (Hallenstadion Zurich)
September 29 - Antwerp, Belgium (Sportpaleis)
October 02 - Milan, Italy (Medielanum Forum)
October 04 - Nice, France (Stade Charles-Ehrmann)
October 06 - Barcelona, Spain (Palau Sant Jordi)

>IN PICS: LADY GAGA'S MOST OUTRAGEOUS OUTFITS

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• MTV Video Awards, September 2009

  You know the maxim that "less is more"? Well in Gaga's case we think "more is more" might be a better term.Wacky hat, loads of feathers, pink hair, gold mask... but somehow it works. (Pic: PA)

• Beats product launch, September 2009

  Gaga channels Dame Edna at the launch of her "Heartbeats" headphones - marketed in conjunction with Dr Dre. (Pic: PA)

• Royal Variety Performance, December 2009

  Forget for a moment the general incongruity of Lady Gaga being in Blackpool and ponder what you'd wear if you were meeting the Queen.Now take a look at this picture and marvel at Gaga's front. That's what the talent show dancers behind her are doing, we're sure.We hope nobody told Her Maj that Gaga isn't a real aristocrat! (Pic: PA)

• MAC product launch, March 2010

  One of our favourite Gaga costumes here, the lace bodysuit and crinkly black hat ensemble.We love how it's a make-up launch and virtually all you can see of her face is her lips.It's the little details... (Pic: PA)

• Tokyo, April 2010

  Meow! Gaga strikes a feline pose as she is snapped by the paps at Tokyo's airport.Looks like she's been writing on her arm with her mascara there. (Pic: PA)

• Tokyo concert, April 2010

  Ever wondered what happened to all the lace doilies you used to see at your elderly relatives' houses?Well it looks like Gaga snapped them up to make this dainty outfit. (Pic: PA)

• Platinum Awards, May 2010

  Gaga turned-up in this ensemble to collect a gong at the Platinum Awards in Germany.We're not sure what her award was for - but we're guessing it might have been for the best Scottish Widows advert lookalike. (Pic: PA)

• New York, July 2010

  We know it gets very hot in New York City in the summer, but do you really have to strip to your bra and pour water over your head Gaga?You do? Oh well, carry on then. (Pic: PA)

• New York, July 2010

  We know it gets very hot in New York City in the summer, but do you really have to strip to your bra and pour water over your head Gaga?You do? Oh well, carry on then. (Pic: PA)

• Madison Square Garden, July 2010

  Here's Gaga at a gig at Madison Square Garden in July 2010.Careful turning round in that, you don't want to have a backing dancer's eye out! (Pic: PA)

• Madison Square Garden, July 2010

  Same gig, different outfit - and this one's quite subdued by Gaga's standards.Still not sure about wearing it on the Tube though. (Pic: PA)

• Madison Square Garden, July 2010

  Gaga does like to think of herself as a bit of a misfit, but we're not quite sure what look she's aiming for here.Quasimodo? Frankenstein's monster? Herman Munster? Answers on a postcard please... (Pic: PA)

• Madison Square Garden, July 2010

  Another costume change - and now she's dressed as a snowflake or something like that.Does that make her the ice queen of pop? (Pic: PA)

• Lollapolooza, Aug 2010

  You've got to hand it to Gaga for her purple accessorizing prowess - but there's one question we really, really want answered.Can she see out of them glasses or what? (Pic: PA)

• New York Plaza, September 2010

  Gaga obviously made the effort to dress up smart when she had a gig at New York's posh Plaza hotel.We suppose "bling cavewoman" is her idea of smart anyway. (Pic: PA)

• MTV Video Music Awards, September 2010

  We bet the organisers and punters at the MTV VMAs were a bit disappointed when Gaga showed up in what was a pretty dull costume, by her usual standards... (Pic: PA)

• VMAs again, September 2010

  ...but we imagine they were delighted when she went on stage in her infamous "meat dress".Love it or hate it, you must admit it's a cut above that last outfit! (Pic: PA)

• Dublin, October 2010

  We're not sure what she was trying to say with this bra and panties and stars-and-stripes bandana in Dublin, but we're sure it was very profound.We must admit we're disappointed to see she's got one of those boring eastern writing tattoos like David Beckham though. We thought she was more original than that. (Pic: PA)

• German TV, November 2010

  It's not always about the clothes with Gaga, as she proved when she wowed German telly viewers with this WIDE hairdo in November 2010.One of our faves! (Pic: PA)

• Madison Square Garden, February 2011

  Just like her idol Madonna, Gaga can't resist the occasional pop at religion - and the Catholic church in particular.This naughty nun outfit was one of the more memorable outfits in her Monster Ball stage show. (Pic: PA)

• Grammys, Feb 2011

  Even when she's just sitting in the audience Gaga still likes to make sure she's the centre of attention.We just feel sorry for the poor punters sat behind her who've had their nights ruined by her stupid hat. (Pic: PA)

• Grammys, February 2011

  And of course she'd changed by the time she arrived on stage at the same event in a giant Perspex egg.We'd hate to see her dry cleaning bill! (Pic: PA)

• Jay Leno, February 2011

  Quite why Gaga decided to get pointy "face implants" to go on Jay Leno's chat show, we don't know. But then she doesn't need to justify herself to us.We were just glad to be able to say that she had a p-p-p--p-p-pointy face! (Pic: PA)