He is more used to being cast as the community good guy, handing out free school uniforms to hard-pressed Hull families and enhancing sport and fitness opportunities for local people.

Now the former boxing champion Tommy Coyle is being allowed to portray a very different character. He has been chosen to take on the villainous role of King Rat in Bridlington Spa’s Christmas pantomime, Dick Whittington.

Relishing the idea of playing a panto baddie, Tommy said: “I just hope the audience boos me louder than my old rivals did in the ring.” Hull’s hometown hero, renowned for his fighting spirit and his community endeavours, is ready to bring plenty of punch to the part, with rehearsals due to be held all through November before curtain-up on December 12.

Tommy said: “I’ve never done any acting before. I’ve always loved movies, the theatre and music, live events, and it’s something I think I’d have loved to have done but never thought, ‘gosh, I’m going to go to acting school’. I guess they’ve seen it as having a local person who is relevant to the area and when you get an opportunity like that, you go for it – I’m all about new experiences in life.

“In 20 years we will look back and my kids will say, do you remember playing an evil rat in panto? Depending on how it goes, you don’t know what else it might lead to.