Jack Savoretti has scored his first ever No.1 album.

The English-born singer of Italian descent has looked like a stayer for a while – and so it has proven. With five albums already under his belt, there had been a high level of anticipation for his sixth, entitled Singing To Strangers.

Now that sense of mounting excitement has been vindicated, with the album entering the UK album charts at No.1. It is a fine prelude to his upcoming tour, which includes two Irish dates. The album, which is released by BMG, and distributed by Warner Music in Ireland, was chosen as 'Album of the Week’, by Neil McCormick in the Daily Telegraph.

"This album belongs to every single person that worked on it, and to every single person that’s listening to it,” Jack Savoretti said in a tweet.

The debut album by Jack Savoretti, Between The Minds, was released in 2007 and peaked at No.70 in the UK. That was followed by Harder Than Easy (2009), Before The Storm (2012) and Written In Scars (2015), which provided his initial breakthrough. While there was no hit single, the album reached No.7 in the UK charts and was certified gold. A BBC2 Album of the Week, it was also the first hit for Jack Savoretti in Switzerland, climbing to No.11 in the charts there.

The follow-up Sleep No More fared even better, reaching No.6 in the UK; it gave him his first Italian breakthrough, breaking the Top 20 and climbing to No. 15. Now, Singing To Strangers has exceeded even heightened expectations by shooting to No. 1. It is an extraordinary moment for an artist who has proven his staying power, and his ability to grow as an artist and a songwriter. In curious contrast to its chart-storming performance in the UK, the album debuted at No.47 in the Irish charts today.

Singing To Strangers was recorded in Ennio Morricone’s studio in Rome. Among its most intriguing elements is the Jack Savoretti co-write with Bob Dylan, on 'Touchy Situation’. He also co-wrote 'Music Too Sad Without You’ with Kylie Minogue, which is included in De Luxe versions of the album.

Jack Savoretti’s music has been widely used in TV shows, including One Tree Hill (2008/2012), Gray’s Anatomy (2009/2010). The Vampire Diaries (2012) and The Royals (2017), among others. He performed ‘Candlelight’ from the new album on the Graham Norton Show recently.

He plays the Limelight, Belfast on 25 May and the Olympia Theatre on 26 May as part of his European tour.