SOUTHAMPTON-born actor Earl Carpenter has landed his “dream role” on Broadway as Javert in the acclaimed revival of Les Misérables, as revealed in the Daily Echo last week.

Earl will fly to New York next Tuesday and after some swift rehearsals will cover for American actor Will Swenson from August 12 for three months.

He has offered to keep Daily Echo readers informed of how it all pans out – when he get’s a moment free!

But the bright lights of Broadway have not stopped him lending a hand to a local event that is dear to his heart – assisting his friend the renowned cellist Yvonne Marie Parsons in The Big Swim, a cross-Solent swim on September 7 to raise money for the Royal Society Of Musicians.

Earl paddled the lead kayak in the original Big Swim in 2012 from Southsea to Ryde Sands near his Isle of Wight home and he was planning to take part again this year when Yvonne and fellow musicians Neil McTaggart and Dan Czwartos swim nine miles from Colwell Bay near the Needles across the mouth of the Solent to Hurst Spit and along the coast to Hengistbury Head.

Earl had been training with them in one of three kayaks and says he is hugely disappointed he cannot now take part on the day.

“It didn’t take much to agree to support this gallant new attempt by Yvonne, especially when you consider the cause. I’d done a trial swim with the team last week to make sure everyone was fit and I’m just gutted I can’t do it.

"Unfortunately by the time I get back from America it will be too late as the weather will be against us. I’m delighted for her that she is doing it. She raised £5,000 last time and it was an amazing experience.”

In 2002 Yvonne was struck down by a serious illness caused by chlorine poisoning from when she was a baby.

Her nervous and immune systems broke down leaving her with a blood disorder and severe autoimmune deficiency.

Unable to find a cure in this country the Royal Society of Musicians gave her £2,000, which enabled her to see a pioneering doctor of immunology research in Copenhagen.

Britain’s oldest musical charity, the Royal Society of Musicians was founded in 1738 as the Fund for Decay’d Musicians to help those working in music and their dependents.

Its founding members included Henry Purcell’s son Edward and the composer Handel, who took part in annual fundraising concerts.

The Big Swim 2014 route has never been attempted before. It leaves Colwell Bay at 9am on Sunday, September 7 and is expected to reach its conclusion at Hengistbury Head at about 2pm. To find out more about The Big Swim 2014 go to.

You can follow the exciting lead up on Twitter, @TheBigSwim2014. Donations can also be made by SMS, simply text SWIM16 followed by the amount to 70070.