Profiles

At the age of just 21 Aspley actor Luke Gell already has an impressive list of achievements.

He's starred in a feature film with Emily Watson, appeared in Casualty and is now Tim, the new barman in BBC 3's hit comedy series Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps.

Starting out

Like so many of the county's successful thespians, Luke's pathway to fame began at the Junior Television Workshop.

"I couldn't have been an actor if it hadn't been for the workshop. I couldn't have afforded it!"

Being inspired

Those origins have prompted Luke to establish his own drama workshop, the Inspire Academy, not to compete with the Television Workshop but to help the many wannabe actors in Nottinghamshire.

"It's going from strength to strength," says the young star.

"It's for young people from 11 - 16 and there's a 16 - 21 group as well.

"Acting is a self indulgent industry and I just know from the workshop there's so much talent in Nottinghamshire that needs to be nurtured."

Two pints

By the time Luke took over behind the bar at The Archer Hotel, Two Pints... was several years old.

He replaced the character Kelly, played by Hayley Bishop, who spent most of her childhood in Beeston.

"I was very honoured when I got the job but I was scared because it had been going seven series. But they accepted me straight away.

"We film for quite some time because there's all the location pieces to do and then the studio work. I was filming from the end of August to the beginning of January."

Future projects

As well as the comedy show and his academy, Luke's got a new job lined up.

"I'm doing a sketch show at the moment called Scallywagga. It's got no live audience so you're filming and wondering if it's funny.

"It's a northern sketch show with Sally Lindsay from Coronation Street."

The show will be broadcast on BBC 3.