Sam Morris may not be a household name at the moment but that could all change with the screening of a new BBC comedy drama.

For the 11-year-old actor from Benton Close, Braintree, has a lead role in the two-part series alongside Men Behaving Badly star Neil Morrissey.

The show called Happy Birthday Shakespeare also stars Ballykissangel actress Dervla Kirwan, The Grimleys' Amanda Holden and her husband gameshow host Les Dennis.

Sam spent three months filming the show, taking time out from lessons at Rainsford School, Chelmsford, which specialises in the performing arts.

The story centres on Neil Morrissey's quest for a perfect life with wife Dervla Kirwan and son Sam Morris. Shakespeare's birthday is the date Morrisey meets his wife - hence the title of the programme.

Sam's mother, Bonita, said her son had enjoyed the experience of working on the set.

She said: "He really had a good time. Everyone was lovely to him and gave him a lot of good advice. We are all really looking forward to seeing it on television."

Sam is building the foundations for an acting career - he has already appeared in a stage version of Oliver in the West End and in other television programmes.

He is on the books of the Sylvia Young Theatre School, whose ex-pupils include Spice Girl Emma Bunton, Denise Van Outen and Samantha Janus.

Mrs Morris said: "We took Sam to see Oliver when he was young and he just decided that was what he wanted to do. We encouraged him but didn't really think he would take it this far. He has though - and we are really proud of him."

Happy Birthday Shakespeare will be screened on April 23 and 24 on BBC1.

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