Tolkien fan doing birthday bar crawl dressed as Gandalf bumps into Lord of the Rings star Sir Ian McKellen

A Tolkien superfan celebrating his birthday dressed as Gandalf got the shock of his life when he bumped into none other than Sir Ian McKellen. Ben Coyles was out marking his 22nd birthday when he ran into the man who played the part of the iconic wizard in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.

Ben was with a group of friends celebrating his birthday in Bristol on April 13 when they turned onto Corn Street just before midnight and spotted Sir Ian. In disbelief, Ben managed to get a picture with his hero.

Student Felix Spencer, 21, who filmed the moment, said: "We had no idea he would be there. We were on our penultimate pub when someone comes up to me and asks me if we would like our Gandalf to meet the real Gandalf.

"So I turn around and assume it’s going to be someone pulling my leg but when I turn round Sir Ian McKellen is right there. So I shout out to Ben so that he could have a chance to talk with him and get some pictures together."

Their friend Scarlet Learmonth said: "A few of us were aware of his nearby events, but never imagined bumping into him." McKellen was performing at the Bristol Hippodrome on April 14 for the pantomime "Mother Goose" with comedian John Bishop.