We’ve all felt that burn after a night on the tiles in a pair of killer heels, when the balls of your feet feel like they’ve been dipped in acid, but you’ll get no pity from the red sole man himself. 'I really have not so much sympathy,’ he says in this week’s issue of Grazia. ‘If Tina Turner and Prince's back-up band can perform on stage in them for three hours, you can't tell me they are impossible to walk in.’

Louboutin, who is celebrating 20 years as the world’s most famous cobbler with an exhibition at London’s Design Museum and a commemorative tome, credits his big break to a performance given by Tina Turner ten years ago.

Since then, his celebrity fans have included Victoria Beckham, Jennifer Lopez, Kate Bosworth and Dita Von Teese – who religiously wears the tell-tale red soles in hersaucy burlesque performances.

But all those glamazons aside, Monsieur Louboutin’s dream clients are somewhat unexpected. 'If I could do shoes for anyone it would be a special project for the Queen of England,’ he said. 'She and the Pope are the ultimate clients.'

A jubilee gift for Her Majesty, perhaps? And God only know what goes on under papal robes... although we always thought His Holiness was more of a Manolo man.