Roots help 'Big lad from Tow Law' to become Huge

US star Justin Timberlake enjoyed Ian Donaghy's music so much he joined him on stage to sing two James Brown numbers.

Along with his band, the 37-year-old part-time teacher has performed for some of the biggest stars of film and television, including Cameron Diaz and Drew Barrymore, Tim Rice and Bill Nighy, as well as the casts of Coronation Street and Emmerdale.

Size definitely matters for the 6ft 3in giant, who now lives in York, who signs himself Big Ian and called his band Huge.

Although he admits to once tipping the scales at 27 stone, he is reluctant to reveal his present weight, only saying it is "at the lower end of my range".

The band has played in front of a 15,000 crowd at Headingley, a 10,000 crowd at BBC Music Live in York and he is presently organising the next show at York Opera House, where 14 previous appearances have all sold out.

Mr Donaghy, whose parents Charlie and Alice live in Tow Law, County Durham, said his background had played a big part in his success.

He said: "It has done me a lot of good being a big Northern lad from Tow Law.

"The accent goes down well everywhere I go.

"We were at an event in the South of France where Justin Timberlake was a guest. He got up and sang two numbers with me, which was great."

He said: "I've also played with Girls Aloud, Atomic Kitten, Alesha Dixon and even Rolf Harris."

The father-of-two has a maths degree having left Wolsingham School, in County Durham, to study at St John's, York and Leeds Carnegie University.

He continues to teach at two very different establishments, The Mount school for girls and a centre for excluded teenagers in York.

He said: "I get a lot out of both my careers and I have a good life.

"It is a joke really. If somebody had told me that I could do this when I was back in Tow Law, I would have laughed."

Huge are at the Grand Opera House, in York, on January 26 and February 2.

Tickets cost £13 from 0870-606-3595 or www.hugepartyband. co.uk