ACTOR Pete Postlethwaite called his OBE "a bolt from the blue" when he celebrated at his home near Church Stretton.

"I'm delighted. I think it's great," he said. "I've no idea where it comes from."

The award in the NewYear's Honours List came shortly before Postlethwaite jetted across the Atlantic for preliminary work on his next film Dark Water. "It's a low key, film noir and is being made in New York and Toronto," he explained.

The man who was once described by Steven Spielberg as "possibly the greatest actor in the world" has a massive string of film credits, from Brassed Off, The Usual Suspects, Jurassic Park to In the Name of the Father, on his CV.

Scaramouche

However, he is due back at Ludlow Assembly Rooms this weekend to give two special performances of his one-man show Scaramouche Jones.

The shows are in aid of the Caitlin Kickstart Fund, which he has supported since it began following the tragic death of Ludlow College arts student Caitlin Hurcombe. The fund helps young performing arts students from Ludlow and Bishop's Castle Colleges to further their studies.

Pete, who is patron of Ludlow Assembly Rooms, was delighted that both shows were fully booked within hours. As soon as he takes off his greasepaint he will be back on the plane to make his next film.