91Èȱ¬

Acclaimed Scottish actor Alex Norton last night swapped his police truncheon for a baton as he stepped in for conductor Tecwyn Evans to conduct Rossini's William Tell Overture at a 91Èȱ¬ Scottish Symphony Orchestra concert in Glasgow's City Halls.

The venue's 1,000-strong audience who were attending the concert, The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, at the start of the 91Èȱ¬ SSO's Listen Here! weekend, were left shocked when presenter Mary Anne Kennedy announced that an emergency had occurred – Evans was stuck in the loo and therefore unable to conduct the next scheduled piece of the evening!

Asking if anyone might be able to step into Evans' shoes to avoid halting the concert, the audience were stunned as Alex, best known as Taggart's DCI Burke, put up his hand to volunteer. He donned conductor's tails and was handed a baton while being introduced, before stepping up in front of the 75-piece symphony orchestra, where he proceeded to effortlessly conduct the piece – much to the amazement and delight of the impressed concert goers.

After the overture, and amidst a standing ovation, Alex was joined by conductor Tecwyn Evans, who applauded him on his "maestro" moment, and 91Èȱ¬ Children in Need mascot Pudsey, as the audience were informed that his contribution had in fact been pre-arranged and was being filmed as part of 91Èȱ¬ Scotland's annual Children in Need programme which will be broadcast later this year.

Alex said: "This really was a dream come true for me. The William Tell Overture was the first record I ever bought, because it was the theme tune to The Lone Ranger, which I was a massive fan of. As a wee boy, I would pretend to conduct it with my mother's knitting needle in my bedroom!

"I did get some rehearsal time with the 91Èȱ¬ Scottish Symphony Orchestra at the weekend, but that's not to say I wasn't nervous when the time came to step up to the podium.

"Children in Need is a great cause, and it's been a delight to take part in this – I really have been given my very own Jim'll Fix It moment, as I'm a huge fan of the 91Èȱ¬ Scottish Symphony Orchestra!"

The 91Èȱ¬ Scottish Symphony Orchestra's Director, Gavin Reid, added: "It was fantastic to witness our audience's reaction to Alex's contribution. They really were astonished by the fact that such a well-known actor had the ability to conduct the orchestra, which I can tell you is no easy task. Alex did incredibly well, and who knows – he may even appear again with us some time in the future if he wishes to continue his burgeoning conducting career!"

The 91Èȱ¬ Scottish Symphony Orchestra's Listen Here! week continues across the weekend with performances covering a full cross-section of its typical musical activities.

Programmes include: The Maestro's Choice, Let There Be Light!, The New Celts and From Hamelin To Hogwarts.

More information is available from bbc.co.uk/bbcsso.

91Èȱ¬ Scotland's Children in Need programme will be broadcast on Friday 20 November 2009.

WC