TV star Dermot O’Leary will appear as a special guest at Colchester Arts Centre later this month as part of a fundraiser for the Nick Alexander Music Trust (NAMT).

The former X-Factor presenter, who has also hosted BBC’s Comic Relief and ITV’s Big Brother, will be kicking off a one-off Indie Disco called So Young on Saturday, February 25, for the trust which awards grants for musical equipment to small charities and community groups.

Nick Alexander, who was killed aged 35 in the Bataclan terrorist attacks in Paris eight years ago, was a former pupil at Colchester Royal Grammar School.

It was during the November 2015 attacks Mr Alexander was working as a merchandise manager at an Eagles of Death Metal concert.

Now, the NAMT, which was set up in Mr Alexander’s memory, will benefit from the arts centre's fundraising event, which will take place in just over three weeks’ time from 7.30pm until 11pm.

Tickets, which cost £10, are available from www.colchesterartscentre.co.uk.

Ben Howard and DJ Gilly, well-known names from Colchester’s indie nights of decades gone by, will be acting as DJs behind the decks for the night, with Dermot returning to play an alternative 90s disco set.

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Born in Colchester and then educated at St Benedict’s College and Colchester Sixth Form College, Dermot said the evening will feel like a trip back in time to what was arguably indie pop’s greatest decade.

He said: “I can’t wait to get back to the homestead, behind the decks at Colchester Arts Centre.

“It will take me back to the 90s... in a good way, for some proper indie disco action – it’s going to be a great night in aid of a fantastic cause.”

Zoe Alexander, who founded the NAMT in memory of her brother, said the evening will be apt given Nick himself ran an indies night back in the day.

She said: “Colchester’s alternative scene is going from strength to strength right now and the Arts Centre is one of the best independent venues in the country.

"It feels fitting to be able to bring this celebration to the venue where Nick himself ran an indie night.

“He was a regular at Gilly and Ben's legendary Twisters nights, so it's fantastic that they've got the dream team back together for this special night - and, of course, Dermot is a true afficionado of the indie disco."