AN EAST Lancashire teenager is looking to conquer the acting world after appearing in a BBC drama watched by millions of people.

Jamie Birtwistle, a 19-year-old former Haslingden High School pupil, of Bacup, is getting to grips with his new-found fame thanks to his role as Fred Caddick in BBC One’s All The Small Things.

Jamie, who studied at Haslingden’s sixth form college, said he was stunned when he was offered the part.

He said: “It all came out of nowhere. My agent sent me to an audition in Manchester and the next day I found out I was in a BBC series.

“It was an unbelievable experience to work alongside such professional actors, and for my first TV role, it was a brilliant opportunity.

“The actors knew it was my first TV part and they all took my under their wings.”

The series, which launched this week, is based around a choir in the North of England.

Jamie plays the son of Esther Caddick, played by Sarah Lancashire, star of Clocking Off, and Michael Caddick, played by Neil Pearson who starred in the State Within and Bridget Jones.

As the series unfolds it exposes two choirs with very different agendas and musical repertoires from pop to punk to classical.

The six-part drama was written by Debbie Horsfield, who was behind popular drama Cutting It. Though Jamie is keen to secure further acting roles, his family are keeping his feet on the ground.

He said: “Even now watching myself on the screen is very strange for me.

“There are a few things in the pipeline that I am considering, but for the moment I am celebrating what has happened with my family.“ Some 4.6 million viewers tuned into the first episode of All the Small Things on Tuesday night.

l The next episode can be seen at 9pm on BBC One, on Tuesday.