We wake up with tea in bed, dress up for a candlelit dinner and often don't see each other in between

Sir Rod Stewart may be at home at his Essex mansion but his heart is thousands of miles away in Italy.

- TOM BRYANT

It is the morning of his and Penny's 16th wedding anniversary but the pair are apart for the occasion... at least for the time being.

"She's been away in Italy picking truffles but is coming back tonight, thank goodness, Sir Rod laughs.

Given the two are known to enjoy one of the strongest marriages in show business, the fact the music legend is looking forward to Penny's return is pretty much a given.

And while he may have sung Tonight's the Night... it seems every night is a special occasion in Sir Rod's book. "I'm definitely more romantic than she is," he says.

"I dress up every night for a formal dinner together. I absolutely love it. I love lighting all the candles."

While he waits for Penny's return, poor Rod has the pleasure of talking to me for the time being. But what a treat it is to be in his company.

He is everything you want from a rock star: oozing charisma, as sharp as a tack and - unlike today's bland assortment of stars not afraid to speak his mind.

But in the past 12 months a different, and admirable, side to his character has emerged: that of campaigner and social justice warrior.

Firstly he funded an extraordinary mission to Ukraine where he rescued refugees at the border before housing and giving a family jobs in the UK.

Then he vowed to cut NHS waiting lists by paying for people's MRI scans, while simultaneously performing his Global Hits tour around the world.

And Penny has also been campaigning, on the menopause, while juggling a successful TV career and shifts as a special constable with the City of London Police.

I ask whether such busy, independent schedules help to oil the cogs of their marriage.

"It does actually," he says. "We often joke about the fact that we can both be in this large house in Essex and not see each other.

"We stay within the perimeters of the house but we don't see each other until the evening.