The Hobbit stars ready for action

After months of production problems, the stars of The Hobbit are in New Zealand ready to start shooting on the Lord of the Rings prequel.

British actors including Martin Freeman and James Nesbitt were among those who gave a press conference, while co-stars Orlando Bloom and Sir Ian McKellen are expected to fly out soon.

Freeman agrees playing Bilbo Baggins is the "role of a lifetime" and cannot believe he has managed to combine it with his role in BBC drama Sherlock.