AWARD-WINNING actor Sir Ian McKellen has picked up the mic and leant his voice to the celebrations of BBC Radio Three's 70th birthday.

The Bolton School alumni has taken part in the recording of a series of radio plays by Samuel Beckett which marks seven decades of pioneering music and culture since the founding of the Third Programme.

McKellen is no stranger to Beckett, appearing in a popular theatre production of his most famous work, Waiting for Godot alongside follow X-Men actor Patrick Stewart.

In the decade following the success of the play, Beckett wrote work for radio including the BBC's Third Programme.

With the exception of the monologue, From an Abandoned Work, the Radio Beckett plays can be heard in binaural surround sound.

Increasingly different in tone and conception from his stage work, the radio plays become more abstract as characters become less individualised and more representative.

McKellen has recorded Words and Music, the third play in the series, alongside acclaimed radio actor Carl Prekopp and radio orchestra.

Starting on October 2, the celebration will begin with From an Abandoned Work performed by Interview with the Vampire actor Stephen Rea.

Other well-known faces lending their voices include Chocolat actor Ron Cook, Stephen Dillane from Games of Thrones and Sherlock's Louise Brealey.