TOM is a sign language-using deaf man in his early 30s. He is attractive, intelligent and successful (he runs his own computer design business), but he can also be stubborn and naive. He is married to Karen, a hearing woman, but they separated after Tom had an affair and were kept apart because of their conflict over the possibility of their son Jason having a cochlear implant. This has now been resolved, and Tom and Karen are back together - but the strains and stresses are beginning to show.

Played by...

FERAS AL-MOUBAYED was born in Kuwait in 1970 to Syrian parents, but educated in England. After attending school in Preston and Derby, he studied for a BA in Fashion Design and Business at the John Moore University, Liverpool, graduating with a 2:1. Since then he has worked for some of the world's leading fashion designers - including Giorgio Armani and Donna Karan - but currently works as a quality control manager for Harrods department store in Knightsbridge.

From his teens, Feras was torn between wanting to be involved in fashion and acting. Fashion seemed a more realistic option, but in 2003 Feras starred in Bim Ajadi's Welcome to Paradise, which was shown on Channel 4's VeeTV and led to him being asked to audition for Switch.

Ten things you always wanted to know about ...
Feras Al-Moubayed

1  Describe yourself in five words.
Funny, kind, honest, ambitious and generous.

2  Which person do you most admire, and why?
I really admire my father, who was from a very poor family. He worked hard to send me to the UK to get an appropriate education and learn languages. He had no idea how to deal with me as I was the first deaf child in the family. He educated himself to plan the best future for me. I wish he was still alive to see what I have achieved. He would be proud.

3  What one item would you take to a desert island??
A woman!

4  What's your big ambition for the future?
Ever since I was small, I dreamt of being a famous comedy actor.

5  What was your most embarrassing moment?
I was in an important meeting with my boss when someone sitting next to me dropped his pen on the floor. I bent over to pick it up and I heard a big rip. I felt the back of my trousers and found they had split in half. Oh God! I turned as red as a tomato!

6  What is the one acting role you'd really love to play?
James Bond - smart, well dressed and smooth.

7  If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I'd like more hair!

8  What's your favourite chat-up line?
When I see a girl I like, I lip read what she's telling her friends - maybe about a holiday she has just returned from - and then I walk up to her and say "Don't you remember me? I was in ..." (then I say the place she just told her friend about!) Works like a dream!

9  What's the first thing you would do if you became President of the World?
Promote world peace.

10  What's the best thing about the deaf community?
Feeling comfortable, coming together and communicating with each other.

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