Profiles

It's been a hectic couple of years for 20-year-old Joe Dempsie. The former product of Nottingham's Junior Television Workshop based in Stoney Street, was thrust into the public eye when he won the part of Chris in E4's teen series Skins.

The show's back for a second series but it'll be the last for Joe and the majority of the existing cast.

Moving on

The show is based around a group of teenagers in 6th form college and since they'll be about to head to university come the end of the second season the decision has been made to start series three with a new group of teenagers.

But Joe isn't too worried.

"It's important professionally for everyone to move on. You've got to be brave and say it's time to do other stuff now."

Doctor Who

That other stuff includes a generous role in an upcoming episode of Dr Who. Even better for Joe Dempsie was that his acting qualities caught the eye of the Dr Who producers.

"They rang up and they just offered me the part. I didn't even have to audition.

"I've never really watched Doctor Who before. I'm not a Sci-Fi fan. I just thought I might never get offered a part straight up again. It would be rude to say no."

Joe will play the part of a soldier called Klein who sees his colleagues gradually killed off by aliens.

"It's a complicated story line. I take the doctor back to my camp and explain what's going on."

In the frame - Nottingham actor Joe Dempsie

Nottingham roots

Such fame means Joe gets back to Nottingham less often than he'd like although he admits to returning every now and then with a suitcase full of dirty washing for his mum to clean.

"When we finished filming the first series of the show I came back home and had a fair amount of time to chill out here.

"This time around it's been much more full on and it hardly seems like I've been here at all.

"But I enjoy it more when I am here. Before I took Nottingham for granted. Now when I get off the train I feel very much at home."

The mighty Reds

One thing that always draws Joe Dempsie home is his love of Nottingham Forest. Like all other Reds fans he's keeping his fingers crossed it's promotion this time around.

"We just need to get some consistency. Promotion's definitely still on the cards. I want to avoid the play-offs desperately. I don't think changing a manager at the moment would do us any favours."