Actor Douglas Hodge has been treading the boards in a new role -- this time as a singer in Oxford's Cowley Road.

After performing in the country's grandest theatres, Mr Hodge has branched out by singing at open-mic sessions at the Exeter Hall pub.

Following a enthusiastic reception, he has recorded an album of self-penned numbers entitled Cowley Road Songs.

Mr Hodge, 45, who is married to Only Fools And Horses actress Tessa Peake-Jones, recorded the CD after testing his songs on the 'OX4' session regulars over the past 12 months.

Michael Grandage, the director of a West End production of Guys And Dolls, did not know Mr Hodge could sing, but, after hearing the CD, decided to cast him as Nathan Detroit in the musical.

Performances of the show start at London's Piccadilly Theatre in June.

The actor, who has co-starred in ITV's Redcap with former EastEnders actress Tamzin Outhwaite, said: "I've been writing songs all my life but -- apart from the occasional girlfriend late at night -- I'd never sung them to anyone. Then last year I finally started playing at venues in and around Oxford.

"Each time I wrote a new song, I'd go down The Ex and sing it, then Rightback Records asked me to record them.

"We went into Blue Moon Studios, in Banbury, for four days and this is what we came up with."

Last year, Mr Hodge made his directorial debut at the Oxford Playhouse with a production of Harold Pinter's play The Dumb Waiter, plus other sketches.

In 2003, he and his wife were at the forefront of a successful campaign to prevent gravel extraction in the Benson, Stadhampton and Chalgrove areas, close to their home.

The CD will be available at the Music Box record shop in Wallingford's Market Square, at gigs, or via the website www.rightbackrecords.com

Mr Hodge added: "I've been doing a gig every week or so in Oxford, but I'll have to cut back the number of performances when the musical starts.

"Maybe I'll do a few performances after the show in London.

"This is one of the most exciting things I have ever done."

Record company spokesman Derek Wheeler said: "Doug's got a good voice and now he's building up a following on the Cowley Road.

"The open-mic sessions must be quite a contrast to appearing on stage in the West End."