A PENSIONER is adjusting to life just inches from stardom after embarking on a new career as a TV and film extra. Reporter Harriet Whitehead caught up with him to discuss the projects he has been working on.

FLIRTING with Anna Friel, sharing his love of Strictly Come Dancing with Sean Bean and standing just behind Gary Oldman as he delivers a speech as Winston Churchill are all in a day's work for a great-grandfather who is embarking on a new career as a film and TV extra.

Gordon Howley retired twice, once from his job at Blackburn with Darwen Council and then as a partnership officer for Burnley Community Network, before he was contacted by a casting company in the summer.

The 71-year-old, from Burnley, has filmed a primetime BBC drama about a Catholic priest in a northern parish written by Jimmy McGovern and a film, Darkest Hour, starring Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill, which will come out at the end of the year.

Along with hundreds of people from across the country, the Burnley FC fan registered with a casting company in Manchester.

He said: "I thought being an extra looked interesting. I always fancied doing something in acting but I am too old to retrain.

"I was asked a few questions about what I was looking to do and what my special skills are then they took my measurements and asked if I was willing to go nude.

"That was in July but then nothing happened. At the end of August I got a phone call asking if I would be in this series called Broken with Sean Bean and Anna Friel."

Mr Howley had to be on set in Liverpool at 5.40am and shot scenes in a supermarket and social club which led to a conversation with Anna Friel.

"On the back of my chair there was a lovely coat which I was trying not to sit on.

"After the fourth rehearsal they took the coat away. Later I noticed Anna Friel with this coat and she looked at me and said 'I'm really sorry that coat was on the back of your chair'.

"I said 'it was such a nice coat I didn't want to sit on it but if I would have known it was yours I would have' and she laughed and said 'behave yourself'.

"Waiting for another scene I was talking to someone about Strictly Come Dancing and Sean Bean overheard our conversation and said 'I love Strictly'.

"He didn't need to join the conversation so it was a really lovely thing to do."

The dad-of-four, who lives in Burnley and is a member of the Burnley Bondholders, said some of the TV scenes are shot in one take but it is a different ball game when it comes to films.

For the Darkest Hour, which was directed by Joe Wright of Atonement and Pride and Prejudice fame, Mr Howley played a politician in scenes filmed in a studio in Watford, and at the John Rylands Library in Manchester and the city's town hall.

Highlighting the attention to detail, he was kitted out with a suit, glasses and a fake moustache which was regularly brushed by someone from the wardrobe department.

One memorable moment was singing David Bowie's Starman with 470 extras in the makeshift House of Commons after a request from the director.

Mr Howley said: "The difference between TV and film is massive.

"In TV they shoot from two angles whereas in film they do it from every where.

"We were there for three days from 9.30am to 3pm just in that one room.

"Gary Oldman was giving his speech right in front of me. It was the first time I had seen him as Churchill.

"Before I could not imagine him as Churchill but you look at him, his speech and mannerisms - I thought he was absolutely brilliant."

Mr Howley, who is an umpire at Lowerhouse Cricket Club, was also due to film with John Hurt days before he died.

The grandfather-of-four said: "It is a really fascinating. I love watching the process and the detail they go into.

"I don't want to go into acting. I am just interested in what they do and the way they do it and I have made a lot of good friends. It gets you out and about and you learn.

"I don't want to get old. I know to some degree life catches up with you but as I say to my son it will have to come fast to catch up with me. This keeps me young."

And his new career shows no sign of slowing down with a couple of other projects in the pipeline including one about Guy Fawkes.