Ribble Valley schoolboy Lucien Laviscount lands role on Grange Hill (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Ribble Valley schoolboy Lucien Laviscount lands role on Grange Hill

7:00pm Friday 15th December 2006 in News By Andrew Hewitt

A SCHOOLBOY has landed a place at the country's most famous fictional school as he bids for acting stardom.

Lucien Laviscount, from Read, is to star in children's drama Grange Hill, following in the footsteps of some famous TV faces.

Lucien 14, had to go through seven auditions and beat off 100 competitors to land the role of Jake Briggs in the long-running programme.

And the pupil, who attends Ribblesdale High School, Clitheroe - when he is not at Grange Hill - hopes his appearance will lead to bigger things.

Lucien, who has wanted to be an actor since he was two years old, said his ambition was to make it big in Hollywood.

He added: "About 100 people went for the part and there was a lot of competition but I won in the end.

"I was ecstatic and I was buzzing over it for days.

"Hopefully I will be in Grange Hill for a few years and after that I want to get into films. I would love to make it big in America or Britain."

Lucien has been filming at Mersey studios in Liverpool and is due to make his debut in the BBC1 show next month.

Programme bosses are keeping tight-lipped about his character, other than that he is a year seven pupil.

Lucien has previously modelled ex-England captain David Beckham's DB 07 clothing range; appeared in an episode of TV drama Clocking Off in 2002, written by Burnley's Paul Abbot and last year starred in the time travel film Johnny and the Bomb, based on the Terry Pratchett book, alongside Zoe Wanamaker.

He lives with his parents Eugene and Sonia and brothers Louis, 16 and Jules, 13.

Lucien said although filming for Grange Hill could be long hours it was enjoyable.

He said he was delighted when he met David Beckham.

Lucien added: "When I was modelling David Beckham's clothes he was on set all the time and I used to have dinner with him and chill out with him.

"He is a really nice guy."

Eugene, who owns the Body and Fitness Health Studio, John Street, Haslingden, accompanied Lucien to his Grange Hill auditions.

He said: "Lucien has wanted to be a model and actor since he was two.

"If he can get further I am happy.

"As long as he is happy I am happy."