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ACTOR Sean Glenn has to age over 40 years when he plays a 109-year-old veteran of the First World War in a new play which opens next week.

He says: "It's the first time I've needed to age – usually it's the other way around for musical hall shows, murder mysteries and pantomime when I still play romantic leads."

Sean plays old soldier Charles in Sons of Paradise, a new play by Alice Collins for the Sheffield Theatre Company, at the Library Theatre from Monday.

Despite his age on stage Sean, who played Harpic in Ken Loach's film The Navigators, still has a love interest.

"It's probably the most romantic part I've ever played. I fall in love with a French girl during the war, sing Roses of Picardy to her and she remains the love of my life for 90 years," says Sean, who spends much of the play in a wheelchair.

Jonny loves to Monkey around

AND now Sheffield's part in England's World Cup rugby triumph over France.

Apparently rugby's golden boy Jonny Wilkinson steadied his pre-match nerves before the semi-final by strumming his guitar through the sleepless night – playing along to the Arctic Monkeys!