A panto dame in Portrush was left flabbergasted after a dream to share the stage with Jimmy Nesbitt finally came true.
The audience at Portrush Theatre Company erupted on Saturday when the Bloodlands star appeared on stage during a production of Aladdin.
Carrying flowers and chocolate, he even stole a kiss from Widow Twankey, played by Ian Magee.
Mr Magee said he had no idea that his famous co-star had actually been booked.
“One of the lines was ‘where’s Jimmy Nesbitt, I really want to meet Jimmy Nesbitt, I love him and you know I want to spend some time with him’,” he told the BBC.
“It takes a lot to make me speechless and I was totally flabbergasted. I just had to stand there thinking this guy with all these accolades, with all this acting and all behind him, and there he is standing on the stage of Portrush Theatre Company, in Aladdin, with a box of sweets for Widow Twankey. Unbelievable.”
Playing up to the crowd, video of the performance sees Mr Nesbitt say: “Widow Twankey, just one kiss and I’ll take you for a ride on the big dipper.”
Rather than auditioning for his guest role, the well-known actor was recruited in bizarre circumstances.
“A couple of weeks ago, one of our directors was in the local garage and saw Jimmy,” said Ian.
“I think they were in the bread section or whatever you know, and just walked up to him and said ‘any chance, you know we’re doing this, any chance of you coming?’
“And he, within 10 seconds, Jimmy had agreed. Said that he’d be there and true to his word, he turned up.”
