DISTINGUISHED actor Sir Ian McKellen is the new celebrity voice of the Speaking Clock.

Former Bolton School pupil Sir Ian has agreed to take on the role on a temporary basis until March 13 to raise cash for Comic Relief.

BT has agreed to donate 10p from each call made to the BT Speaking Clock from a BT landline to the Red Nose Day appeal.

Sir Ian said: “Red Nose Day is a national institution and I’m delighted to be at last making my debut with Comic Relief. As for the Speaking Clock, I hope everyone will give me a call, if they have the time, so to speak."

Most commonly known today for his high profile Hollywood roles as Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movie series, as well as Magneto in the X-Men franchise, McKellen’s CV also features extensive theatre credits with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theatre.

McKellen’s work has been recognised with numerous awards over the years, including six Laurence Olivier Awards, a Golden Globe, and two Academy Award nominations, among many others. In 1991, McKellen was knighted for services to the performing arts.

The money raised through the BT Speaking Clock and other fundraising initiatives will be spent by Comic Relief in the UK, and across Africa, helping vulnerable and disadvantaged people to turn their lives around.