A YOUNG actress who has already landed starring roles in two major television series has shown she has a talent for winning competitions.

Blackburn Rovers supporter Holly Grainger will see her heroes take on champions Arsenal at Ewood after winning a Lancashire Evening Telegraph competition to name the club's new mascot.

The 10-year-old, known to millions as Hodge's daughter Kirsty, in the series Preston Front, was chosen from among the entrants who came up with the name Roar for the cuddly lion.

As well as winning the competition, Holly has been busy publicising her new ITV series The Rotten Trolls. She is the main character in the BAFTA award-winning series.

The Rotten Trolls started a 13-week run this week and is one of the most popular children's programes on television.

Holly lives in Manchester, but has strong family links in the Ribble Valley. Her mum, Jan, was brought up in Clitheroe and, even though the family moved away from East Lancashire, they still follow Rovers' fortunes.

Jan said: "Holly wears her Blackburn Rover's shirt all the time, even though we live in Manchester. She will be thrilled when she finds out she has won the competition."

Holly fell into show business by accident when she was recommended to the makers of Preston Front five years ago by a family friend. Since then, she has appeared in three series of the programme, filmed in East Lancashire.

She followed up by beating off competition from 70 other young hopefuls to land the main part in The Rotten Trolls. Her proud mum said: "Holly is a very level-headed little girl and she has taken all this in her stride.

"Her friends at school are all excited for her, but she is very laid back about everything."

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