IT'S NOW OR NEVER: JON BON JOVI'S BACK, BABY

After health issues that nearly ended his career, the rocker's on the road again-with a little help from Bruce and Robbie. He talks to Michael Odell about his emotional return, legacy...and Trump

- Michael Odell

Jon Bon Jovi seems to be enjoying a crash-course in Britishness while in London.

A couple of days before we meet he took the Tube from central London to Wembley Stadium to announce the band's show next summer. "Your subway is very efficient, man," he notes approvingly. Then on he went to his first Premier League football match, Arsenal against Crystal Palace at the Emirates. Of course, being American, Bon Jovi calls it a "soccer game". And being a mega star who has sold 130 million albums, he wasn't in the cheap seats either.

"My seat was heated and I got to meet your Prime Minister," beams the 63-year-old rocker. "A gentleman. A real classy guy."

Bon Jovi was also introduced to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and England boss Thomas Tuchel and seems to have hit it off with the latter. The final of next year's US/Canada/Mexico-hosted World Cup is scheduled to be held at the MetLife Stadium, close to Bon Jovi's New Jersey home.

"I've extended the invitation for Thomas to come and stay at my place... if England make it that far," he says with a twinkle.

The final part of Bon Jovi's British induction took place this morning when he recorded a children's story written by Sir Paul McCartney for CBeebies Bedtime Stories. Bon Jovi is a grandfather (his son Jake and wife, British actor Millie Bobby Brown, adopted a daughter in August). "Listen, as a grandpa, storytelling is a serious business," he asserts. "But all in all, I'm having a wonderful time in London. I'm usually here for Wimbledon and last summer we came over for my son's wedding at Soho Farmhouse [his eldest son Jesse married there last June] just outside the city. Magical."