EDUCATION chiefs today warned fame-hungry youngsters not to pin their hopes on entering celebrity culture and drop out of school or college.

A new survey completed by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) reveals that one in seven pupils would drop out of education to be on television compared to one in 10 in a previous survey.

County Councillor Alan Whittaker, Lancashire's cabinet member for schools, said: "The pressure on young people these days is great and sometimes the lure of quick fame and easy stardom is very tempting.

"It is much better to get an education, which will open so many doors and offer so many opportunities throughout your life.

"When you are young it seems like there is no tomorrow but there is. All of our schools and teachers encourage students to stay in education for as long as possible. Increasingly that is what employers are looking for."

Big Brother Seven is now in full swing and Melanie Hunt, director of learning at the LSC, said: "While Big Brother may be an appealing route to fame and fortune, we are encouraging young people to understand the facts about this type of short-lived fame.

"For many young people, trying to be famous through reality television can be incredibly tempting but they should remember the majority of contestants quickly sink back into obscurity.

"Having a successful career is a far more secure way for young people to achieve their fortune."

She pointed to high-profile figures like Jamie Oliver, who gained his level two certificate in catering and hotel management and J K Rowling, who has a degree.

Mrs Hunt added: "Those seeking fame and fortune need to have a back-up plan.

"That is why the LSC is encouraging young people to achieve a minimum set of qualifications to get set for life, such as five good GCSEs or the equivalent.

"By achieving these qualifications, many doors and options will remain open to enable young people to achieve the success they desire."

She said the odds of being picked for a Big Brother style reality TV show and being successful afterwards were around one in 30 million worse odds than winning the lottery jackpot.