This may be old news for some of you...

Pop icon Prince has sold out TWO nights at Manchester Academy within seconds of the secret gigs finally being revealed.

Friday and Saturday night gigs at the Oxford Road venue went on sale just as Prince appeared on stage at the Brit Awards in London.

It sent his northern fans into a buying frenzy - even with tickets priced at a hefty £70 they both sold out within minutes.

In recent days many had speculated it would be an intimate 200-capacity venue that he would choose, but that has been firmly scotched by confirmation of the somewhat cavernous space of the Academy, in the city's student heartland.

However, fans are sure to be excited by Prince's comments that he plans to 'rock it up' in Manchester this weekend.

The American star, flanked by his new band 3rd Eye Girl, presented the Best British Female gong at the annual music awards bash at the 02 Arena on Wednesday night.

After thanking Londoners for their warm welcome for his string of "secret" gigs, he confirmed they will now be heading north with his unusual tour.

He said: "London I want to thank you for making us feel so extra loved here on our trip it's been wonderful.

"In a couple of days we'll be heading up north, we want to see you Manchester. We're going to rock it up there a little bit."

Word of the gigs has sent fans into a social media frenzy trying to guess the venues he might play.

At his 'guerrilla' gigs in London venues have included intimate settings where fans have only found out hours before the performances - and have spent hours queuing to get their hands on tickets.

At least fans in Manchester will be spared those queues in freezing temperatures now that all tickets have sold.

I smell half-truths and bullshit.

Tickets at the door?