Phil Daniels has enjoyed a long and varied career, from acting in The Who's classic rock opera-turned-film Quadrophenia to a two-year stint on Eastenders, as well featuring in Goldsmith alumni Blur's Parklife - a role he will reprise at this year's Barclaycard British Summer Time in Hyde Park.

But it all may never have happened. Aged just 13, he had a brush with death when he and his parents were involved in a horrific train accident in Eltham.

The Eltham Well Hall crash occurred on the evening of June 11, 1972.

An excursion train from Margate to Kentish Town derailed on a sharp curve at Eltham Well Hall station, killing the driver - who was intoxicated - and five passengers.

Phil told News Shopper: "There was a club - a railway club my parents went to in Kentish Town, and it was their annual trip to the seaside - Margate I think it was.

"So it was an excursion, it was just the club, and we went there on train and I think the driver drank too much.

"When we went back there was a bend in Eltham and we didn't make it round the corner.

"The driver took the bend too fast and couldn't get round it.

"It wasn't very nice."

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Phil will be performing the hugely popular song Parklife on stage with Blur as they headline British Summer Time at Hyde Park on June 20.

As an actor the 56-year-old has performed in front of live audiences many times, but appearing alongside Blur is always a very contrasting experience.

He said: "It's much more raucous - theatre's very solemn really, people sit there listening to what you're doing, they laugh but it's a different atmosphere completely.

"(With Blur) you've got all that electric power behind you.

"The crowd know what's coming up, as soon as I walk on they know, it's win-win situation really.

"I'm looking forward to it - it'll be fun, hopefully it'll be a lovely day, and we'll have a lovely time."

Blur aren't the only major band with which Phil is closely linked - as a young actor he appeared in Quadrophenia, the film adaptation of the The Who's rock opera of the same name.

Of his time on the film, he said: "We all liked the scenes with the scooters really - we could wear no crash helmets and go flying off round corners and then come back into sight, riding scooters.

"I think we all thought we were the real thing."

The Who are also performing at British Summertime, on June 26 along with the likes of Paul Weller and Kaiser Chiefs.

Phil added: "They’re fantastic aren't they - only Pete and Rog left now but they've got a great band now - they were pioneers really, in that rock kind of way.

"Quadrophenia's a masterpiece as far as I'm concerned - so fantastic, great band."

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Later this year Phil will be taking up the part of Thénardier in Les Misérables – the part played by Sasha Baron Cohen in the 2012 film – at the Queen’s Theatre in London’s West End.

But despite his 40-year career on stage and screen, and collaborations with some of the all time greats - Oliver Reed, Bob Hoskins and his old friend Ray Winstone, some musical fans may be disappointed to discover he isn't a cheesy television magician with a similar name.

He said: "It’s happened before.

“I was playing a charity football match, and as we were coming off a half-time a woman ran up to me and said to me: 'You're not Paul Daniels, I was told Paul Daniels was coming’.

“She was livid, so there you go.

"I used to tell people he was my dad sometimes to see how they would react."

Tickets for Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park can be bought at bst-hydepark.com


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