AN ILKLEY actor starring in an award-winning West End musical about The Kinks has been taken out for drinks to toast his success... by the band's legendary frontman Ray Davies.

Former Ilkley Upstagers member, Danny Horn, was top choice after no fewer than six auditions to take the role of the lead singer and songwriter in the acclaimed production, Sunny Afternoon.

Danny, 26, took to the stage of the Harold Pinter Theatre three weeks ago, and his packed schedule sees him singing 24 songs per show, six times per week.

And meeting the great man himself was a surreal experience.

Danny said: "It's really one of the weirdest things.

"He comes to rehearsals and he's talked to me about himself. It must be really strange for him."

A dedicated musician himself, who sings and plays guitar, Danny impressed at the auditions not only for his talents, but also as a lookalike for a younger Ray Davies.

"It's been an absolute whirlwind," Danny added. "It's a big, big, job – they call it the Hamlet of musical theatre!"

Although he has also had high profiles roles in films, as well as on TV in Dr Who and Emmerdale, Danny sees the success of Sunny Afternoon as a potential springboard for his career to even greater heights.

His predecessor in the musical has gone on to work with Sir Kenneth Branagh and Dame Judi Dench.

However, the former Ilkley Grammar School student remains grateful to those who gave him such inspiration in the earlier part of his career, including the Upstagers' Gill Jackson and the late Ilkley Playhouse stalwart, Pat Dyson.

From growing up in the town and taking part in local productions, Danny went on to study at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London.

His acting credits also include MI High, Vera and a starring role in thriller Scar Tissue, as well as several roles in several short films.

Most recently, he played Darren Thompson in 31 episodes of Emmerdale, was in TV series Hetty Feather and played a role in new film, Beautiful Devils, which is currently at post-production stage.