Since the release of AM in 2013 and the subsequent tour, the band have been busy with side-projects – with Matt Helders playing with Iggy Pop for the Post Pop Depression album and tour, while Alex Turner released an album and EP with The Last Shadow Puppets.

Rumours of the band heading back to the studio first emerged back in the summer, while Turner maintained that they were in no hurry to record.

However, this morning the BBC’s Shamir Masri tweeted: “Alex Turner told me during an interview for BBC Sheffield they are coming back to Sheffield to pen a new album – it IS happening.”

No dates have yet been confirmed for Arctic Monkeys sixth studio album.

Alex Turner told me during an interview for @BBCSheffield they are coming back to Sheffield to pen a new album.. it IS happening! https://t.co/ObeO10rNmn

— Shamir Masri (@ShamirMasri) December 23, 2016