HOMEGROWN hero Dermot O’Leary got behind the decks for a night of 90s nostalgia in front of a sell-out crowd at Colchester Arts Centre.

The former X-Factor presenter, who has also hosted BBC’s Comic Relief and ITV’s Big Brother, led a one-off indie disco in aid of a trust which awards grants for musical equipment to charities.

The star was joined by Colchester legends Ben Howard and DJ Gilly, as well as Father Brian from the Dundee Devotional, for the show on Saturday in front of a crowd of 350.

The show was held in aid of the Nick Alexander Music Trust, founded following the devastating Bataclan terrorist attacks in 2015.

Gazette: Nick Alexander, 35, was killed during the Paris terror attacks in 2015Nick Alexander, 35, was killed during the Paris terror attacks in 2015 (Image: Newsquest)

Nick Alexander, 35, of Weeley, was shot to death by gunmen in 2015 while working at the Bataclan Theatre in Paris.

In total, 130 people were murdered in a co-ordinated assault by Islamic State extremists on the French capital.

Former Colchester Royal Grammar School student Nick was described as a “vibrant force” by sister Zoe, who founded the trust in his memory.

A spokesman for Colchester Arts Centre said tickets sold out for the event “very quickly”.

Gazette: (From L to R) - Ben Howard, Father Brian from the Dundee Devotional, Dermot and DJ Gilly(From L to R) - Ben Howard, Father Brian from the Dundee Devotional, Dermot and DJ Gilly (Image: Seana Hughes)

“It was an amazing night, we could have sold out three times over,” she said.

“There was an absolutely brilliant atmosphere, they were dancing all night. There was an afterparty at Twisters bar.”

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

He said: “Back in the homestead. The most fun, in a room full of love. So good to be back at Colchester Arts Centre doing a 90s indie set for the fine people at Nick Alexander Music Trust.”

Zoe confirmed the event had raised more than £3,000 for the trust.

She previously described the evening as “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.

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

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