A YOUNG stage school actor from Penarth has landed a role in a new period television drama.

Alfie Farmer has been selected above hundreds of other hopefuls for a role in Britannia.

The 12-year-old has gained a wide variety of professional stage and screen credits since he joined The Mark Jermin Stage School when it was set up in 2010.

Along with his sister, Annie, he has been a regular attendee of he school which runs on Friday evenings at Trinity Church Hall on Stanwell Road.

Alfie’s mum, Katie Farmer, said she believes that professional acting and performing jobs are a positive experience for young children, offering them exclusive and unique opportunities and improving their confidence.

"Alfie has never been overly confident in school but performing is something that comes naturally to him," she said.

"Opportunities like these allow him to excel in something that also provides him with a fantastic CV."

The stage school was set up by director and agent Mark Jermin.

It caters for children as young as four-years-old and aims to develop their skills until the age of 18.

Mr Jermin said: "It is fantastic when our students get the opportunity to experience professional shoots and other opportunities especially when we have watched them grow and develop from a young age.

"I can remember Alfie from our first ever class at the Penarth school.

"Now he has become a student who the younger pupils are able to look up to.

"Alfie has been very lucky to gain the opportunities he has and this is just another credit to add to the list."

Britannia will be filming at The Lady of the Lake in Carmarthenshire.