A Potters Bar theatre producer has spoken of the 'thrill' of finding out he'd been awarded an MBE in the King's Birthday Honours.

Kenny Wax was born in Manchester, but now calls the Hertfordshire town home. He's been recognised with an MBE for services to charity and the arts, for his work across a career spanning more than three decades.

The 56-year-old is responsible for seven major stage shows, including the Olivier award-winning 'Play that goes wrong', as well as some of the UK's best family theatre, most notably adaptation's of Julia Donaldson's Gruffalo books.

Recently, he served as president of the Society of London Theatre, a trade body that works in the interests of theatre's West End.

On Friday (June 14) he was one of more than 20 Herts residents to be recognised in King Charles III's Birthday Honours.

He told the Welwyn Hatfield Times: "It was quite emotional actually. My wife said to me that we had a letter from the Cabinet Office.

"As I'm on a few theatre committees, I occasionally have meetings in the Cabinet Office and around Westminster, so I didn't really think much of it.

"But she had a feeling it was something a bit more special so we opened it together and there it was, that I'd been put forward for an MBE. It was a real thrill, I feel incredibly lucky."

Kenny started out as an usher in London, where he'd moved for university, having felt inspired by the 'mega musicals' of the 1980s.

He says that unlike many, they inspired him not to become an actor or singer, but to produce his own stage spectaculars.

He said: "I'm very lucky to work in an industry which I love and has given me a livelihood."

When asked what advice he would give to an aspiring producer today, he said: "It's harder than ever these days but if you really love something and you stick at it things can happen. Just be good to people, be kind and generous and give people time.

"But maybe have a plan B - I never really did, so I'm very lucky that plan A worked out!"