A FORMER bakery boss turned movie mogul has seen his paper fortune soar in the last few weeks on the back of his company's success.

Gary Smith's Winchester Entertainment has been one of the stock market's biggest successes of the year - almost quadrupling to its highest ever level.

The ex-QEGS pupil, who regularly returns to his hometown to watch Rovers and see his family, owns around 20 per cent of the London-based company - a stake now worth almost £7.5million and which has increased by more than £4million this year alone.

Last month, he cashed in 345,000 shares and warrants worth £686,550 but still owns 3.28million shares in the firm.

A string of high-profile deals announced by the firm have sent the shares price rocketing.

Winchester secured a clutch of deals for a children's television series, Jellabies, which it produces.

It is also currently developing three other children's television series with TV2 of Norway, Chorion and Dorling Kindersley.

Earlier this year, the firm - which has had hits with romantic comedy Shooting Fish and drama Divorcing Jack - raised £9million to finance two new movies including Mr Benn, being produced through a new arm of Winchester, UK Films Group plc.

Several big names have already been signed up for the projects.

Gary, educated at Longshaw Primary School before QEGS, hit the headlines in his hometown in 1987 when he bought out the former Kenyons Bakery from the receivers.

He founded Winchester six years ago. He now works in London and lives with his family in Birmingham - in a house called Ewood Lodge, named after the home of his favourite football team.

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