SIR Ian McKellen has revealed that he has taken up painting after encouragement from Dame Judi Dench.

The former Bolton School pupil was taking part in an online event, hosted by Sir Kenneth Branagh for charity Acting for Others.

Dame Maggie Smith and Sir Derek Jacobi also joined the illustrious line up of actors talking about their lockdown experiences.

“I use acrylic paint which is very easy because it all dissolves in water,” he said. “I’m basically copying things at the moment. I’m looking forward to the time quite soon after the vaccine when I can go out and sit across the road at my easel and paint my house from the outside”.

Sir Ian, 81, also described how he had once shared a stage with a ghost while acting with Sir Patrick Stewart in Waiting For Godot 10 years ago.

"His face was ashen and he stopped acting”, said Sir Ian of Sir Patrick. “He said afterwards he had seen a man standing next to me in a brown overall jacket.”

For One Knight Only made £300,000 to help the acting community during Covid-19.