DANNY Ligiari says his life has “gone mad” since his chance meeting with Tom Hardy last year.

The Worcester man who used to play professional rugby and basketball, was cast in ITV's Taboo which aired last year, after a chance meeting with Tom Hardy.

We reported how they met when the actor's dog invaded the pitch where Mr Ligiari - also known as Danny Badham - was coaching a rugby session in Richmond and this led to him being offered the role on the show, which aired a year ago, despite having no previous acting experience.

Mr Ligiari, aged 46, said: "My life's completely changed, I’ve been travelling everywhere business class."

Former Dyson Perrins High School pupil, Mr Ligiari said production companies and film directors have been in touch since his acting debut.

He has also been rubbing shoulders with celebrities at the Guardians of the Galaxy premiere as well as the Pirates of The Caribbean premiere, Jungle Book, and Captain America: Civil War, which he attended.

Last year, the actor, sportsman and charity ambassador even saw his death reported by a fake story on website Global News.

He said: "I couldn't believe it. A friend said you know you've made it, because you've had a celebrity death story!"

This year Danny will be flying to America, Kenya, Australia and the Philippines to work on a variety of new projects.

He says he has not had a lie in for two months, and has now also been approached about the possibility of writing a seven-part series with Amazon, that will hopefully have a star studded cast.

He says he is able to cope with his new packed schedule because of his “solid group of friends.”

He said: "I'm so lucky. I've got an entourage, just like the show.

"I have always tried to help people out, and now my friends have been helping me, I have one doing my PR, one dealing with contracts, one who is my manager, and the support I’ve had has been amazing."

Mr Ligiari says he continues to back a series of charitable causes, including as a proud supporter of Acorns Children's Hospice.

He's also an ambassador for Adoption UK, a cause that has a special significance for him as he was adopted by a Callow End couple at the age of one.

His birth father was the famous Fijian Ilisoni Ligairi, a former SAS major.

He will also be taking part in a project where he will bring seven young men from poor areas of Kenya and Fiji to the UK where he will give them opportunities to go to school and play sports.

He said: "My slogan is I don’t make a lot, but I make a difference."

He said the past year had taught him to just be himself.

He said: "Always be you.

"It's really important, don't try to be posh.

"I got to work with Tom Hardy, and he is quite cool, because he’s just a really normal guy."