Earlier this year, he was at the Alhambra playing fair-minded lawyer Atticus Finch in the stage version of To Kill A Mockingbird.

Now Bradford-born actor Duncan Preston takes on the role of Daddy Warbucks in a revival of Broadway musical Annie.

Though noted for his stage presence, Duncan has appeared on television many times, pricipally as Clifford in Victoria Wood’s spoof soap opera Acorn Antiques and later as Stan in her sitcom dinnerladies.

He transferred from the small screen to the stage in the Olivier Award-winning stage musical version of Acorn Antiques, before returning to TV as Doug Potts in ITV’s Emmerdale.

The revival of Annie includes 38 young female performers from across Yorkshire, chosen from more than 400 who auditioned for a part in the Christmas show.

Orphan Annie’s faithful friend Sandy will be played by four different dogs throughout the run.

Annie runs at West Yorkshire Playhouse from November 21 to January 15. The box office number is (0113) 2137700.