THIRTY-TWO years after starring as Jesus in the York Mystery Plays, actor Christopher Timothy has returned to the Museum Gardens to be reunited with a former co-star.

Eilidh Newton, now 38, of Huntington Road, played a child at the Last Supper and has memories of performing alongside the All Creatures Great And Small actor in the 1980 production.

As her father, Ray Alexander, was also involved in the production, Mr Timothy visited their house for tea.

Recalling the production, Mr Timothy said: “It’s the best job I have ever had. It was an extraordinary experience. I would pay money to go back 30 years and do it again.

“I met 300 people and on the last night, during the Sermon on the Mount, I looked around at the faces and saw ones I didn’t recognise. I felt terrible until I realised people had turned up in costume and taken part. They didn’t mess it up.

“It’s wonderful to be back in York. Before the Mystery Plays, I used to come here on days off from All Creatures.”

Mr Timothy, who is currently starring in The Diary of Anne Frank at York Theatre Royal, said other memories of the Plays included a surreal moment when the white pigeon released by God swooped around to land back on his shoulder, and the moment rain started falling at the exact moment it was scripted as Jesus was left on the cross.

Mrs Newton, who is also due to play the role of Procula, Pontius Pilate’s wife, in this year’s Mystery Plays, said: “It’s lovely to see Christopher and it’s lovely to be involved in the next one.”

More than 28,000 people are expected to see the Plays tell the story of the eternal battle between good and evil - from Creation to the Last Judgement in August this year.

The production will be staged amid the ruins of St Mary’s Abbey in the Museum Gardens, and will feature a community cast as well as some professional actors.