EAST Lancashire has a long and impressive track record of producing acting talent – especially where soaps are concerned.

It’s difficult to know whether it is a strong amateur dramatic tradition across the area or innate theatrical genes that put so many of our people in the spotlight.

Coronation Street alone has helped the careers of Wendi Peters and Vicky Entwistle from the Ribble Valley, Julie Hesmondhalgh from Accrington and Rossendale’s Sam Aston, Jennie McAlpine and Anthony Cotton.

Turning the clock back to the late 1970s, you had former Blackburn mayoress Madge Hindle as Renee Roberts, and ten years before that Davy Jones (better known as one of the Monkees) appeared as Colin Lomax. Davy spent much of his time with his aunt in Accrington.

Now we have Blackburn’s own Alex Bain, who is still at primary school but has just scooped the Best Young Performer award at the prestigious British Soap Awards.

Alex, who plays seven-year-old Simon Barlow, has already won two top soap awards in the past two years.

Congratulations, Alex, and long may East Lancashire’s soap star role of honour continue.