He may have six Laurence Olivier Awards, two Oscar nominations and been acting for more than 50 years, but Sir Ian McKellen is set to make his debut in a Kent town next year.

The actor who also has a a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, four BAFTA nominations and five Emmy Award nominations, is well known to millions as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films.

But he's never acted in Folkestone - something he intends to put right in 2019.

Sir Ian will be celebrating his 80th birthday with an 80-date tour, which includes his debut on a Folkestone stage.

And there are still a few tickets left to snap up. In many parts of the country tickets for his show sold out within hours.

He said: "I’m celebrating my 80th birthday by touring a new solo show to theatres I know well and a few that I don’t. The show starts with Gandalf and will probably end with an invitation to act with me on stage. In between there will be anecdotes and acting.

"Live theatre has always been thrilling to me, as an actor and in the audience. This will be my Folkestone début - long overdue.”

He will appear at Leas Cliff Hall in Folkestone on Tuesday, April 2, 2019.

To book tickets from £10.25 click here or call 01303 228600.