Actor Brian Blessed was warmly received at Cambridge Union Society last night.

SHAKESPEAREAN actor and star of cult 80s film Flash Gordon, Brian Blessed made an impassioned plea at Cambridge Union Society for the role of chancellor at Cambridge University.

Brian Blessed interacts with the students at Cambridge Union Society.

Complete with cries of “Gordon’s alive”, tales of climbing Mount Everest inspired by Cambridge graduate George Mallory and his latest ambition to go into space, the coal miner’s son took a packed audience at the union by storm.

“I feel Cambridge is the centre of the earth,” he cried.

“It’s a place of infinite possibility to learn here.

“There’s a library I want to devour.

“My big belief about this place is adventure.

“I say to you that if by some streak of fortune the coal miner’s son is made chancellor of Cambridge University anything is possible and nothing is impossible.

“It’s the beauty of being in this atmosphere – I love this atmosphere.”

When asked by a student what gave him the edge on the other three candidates standing for the chancellor election, the larger than life actor, uncharacteristically, gave the modest reply that they were more qualified.

“I have been dragged up out of the wilderness,” he said.

“The students have asked me to come and I have answered it because something in my heart rejoices in it.”

Blessed was asked how he would find time for the university alongside his acting career and his passion to pursue adventure.

“I have been president for the National Parks for eight years and our parks are doing very well,” he remarked.

“This is not about Brian Blessed the pursuing his acting career.

“I want to learn from you and make friends with the dons and not make them feel so isolated and alone.

“I will burn the wheels on my car and come up and down and be part of it.”

Seventy-five-year old Blessed, who had to leave school at 14 after his father suffered a mining accident, said he longed to go to university and was tremendously fortunate to gain a scholarship to the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School along with childhood friend Patrick Stewart.

But Blessed – whose ability to deviate from one anecdote to the next seamlessly is nothing short of remarkable – was lost for words when it came to the question of how he would improve access to Cambridge University and higher education in general.

“I haven’t a clue,” he replied.

“I’m not interested in Brian Blessed pursuing his acting career you just have me and I’ll be a servant to help relieve suffering and to inspire.”

Blessed is up against supermarket mogul Lord Sainsbury, human rights barrister Michael Mansfield QC and grocer Abdul Arain, who owns the Al-Amin store in Mill Road, Cambridge.

At 7.30pm today Michael Mansfield will speak at the hustings at Cambridge Union Society followed by Lord Sainsbury and Abdul Arain tomorrow night (Wednesday).

Voting for the position will take place on Friday and Saturday with members of the university’s senate responsible for the final decision.