A TALENTED young actor will make his television debut alongside stars of the big screen.

Jack Meakin, 17, landed a role as a supporting actor in ‘The Mill’, a true-to-life mini-series about the tough life of apprentices during the early years of the Industrial Revolution.

The chance to play the part of one of the young workers was a huge boost for Jack, of Canal Street in Oswaldtwistle, who only decided to pursue acting professionally in October.

Set in and based on archives of Quarry Bank Mill in Styal, Cheshire, he has been acting for up to three days a week alongside 24 other actors including the likes of Pirates of the Caribbean star Kevin McNally, Matthew McNulty and TV actors Kerrie Hayes and Donald Sumpter.

Jack will appear in all four episodes of the Channel Four mini-series and his role will highlight the brutal working conditions for rural workers in the 1830s.

In one nail-biting scene, his character takes part in a riot which could threaten the very workings of the mill.

Jack, who lives on Bramley Close said: “It was a bit of a shock because I didn’t expect to get into TV so soon after deciding to properly pursue acting.

“I’ve never worked with anyone famous before but they have been friendly and you quickly realise that they are just normal people at the end of the day.

“I’ve picked up so many new skills so it’s been a great experience, especially acting out the riot.”

Church-born Jack hopes the show will be a springboard into further television acting and has set his sights on landing a role in a soap or series such as Benidorm after he completes a one-year acting course at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan).

He decided to pursue his dream after a chance meeting with Emmerdale star Malandra Burrows when on holiday last autumn.

He said: “I’d wanted to do acting but never had the confidence.

“It was only after sitting next to Malandra on the plane that I plucked up the courage to sign up to an agency.

“I’m still in touch with her and am very grateful for her continued help and advice and because she inspired me to follow my dream.”