A Norwich Evening News reporter is making a name for himself as someone who is up for a challenge.

So when the opportunity arose for James Bigg to swap his notebook for some Egyptian robes and make a one-night-only appearance in a classic opera, he jumped at the chance.

James took to the stage in a performance of the Verdi opera Aida in front of a packed Norwich Theatre Royal.

The stunt was part of the paper's Challenge James series which is in aid of the Evening News' Crusade for a Crusader Appeal. The paper is trying to raise £45,000 for a new vehicle for St John Ambulance.

James said: "It was a terrifying challenge. I went along thinking I was just going to be an extra standing at the back of the stage.

"But the Moldovan director, whose English was about as good as my Russian, told me I was too tall to play a priest so I had to play a soldier leading troops onto the stage.

"I had a ridiculous costume with big leather boots and had visions on me falling down the stairs 'You've Been Framed'-style."

Although James successfully led the troops down to the front of the stage, he then missed his cue to move away.

He said: "I got down to the front and I froze. One of the Moldovans made a "pssst" noise and that means the same in any language - move! I don't think the theatre is my niche!"

The latest challenge for James follows his experience at a Pop Idol-style audition and daring appearance on some of the region's biggest roller coasters.

James said: "I sang 'Relight My Fire' by Take That at the Pop Idol-style audition for a boy band and got ripped apart by the judges because I was so awful.

"I felt quite bad because I was doing it in front of about 25 youngsters who were all pretty good."

So far about £10,000 has been raised for the appeal and James is looking for more challenges to help boost the total.

He said: "We have an open invitation for readers to suggest challenges.

"People in the office have suggested the last couple and this morning I found a flyer about a drag queen event on my desk. I don't know if I fancy waxing my legs!"