Swansea stage school in reality TV series for BBC1 Wales

Published Tuesday 4 January 2005 at 12:15 by Liz Thomas

BBC1 Wales is to broadcast a behind-the-scenes series following the lives of pupils at a stage school in South Wales.

The show, entitled Starstruck, will track students at the Mark Jermin Stage School in Swansea through auditions and rehearsals for television dramas, stage musicals and adverts.

The 40-strong stage school has three branches, in Pontlliw, Port Talbot and Carmarthen and viewers will be able to see the aspiring performers attending at least three auditions a day, often competing with each other for the same parts as well as against students from more widely known drama schools around the rest of the UK.

Said Jermin: “The stage school is my life and I wouldn’t want to do anything else. I love it, the students and the ups and downs. Filming the series has been a wonderful experience. The programme is a true reflection of the school and gives an insight into the characters, commitment and concept that makes the school what it is.”

The show will also go behind the scenes at BBC Wales’ daily Welsh-language drama, Pobol y Cwm, and BBC3 period drama Casanova with Peter O’Toole.

Programme director Catrin Roberts said: “As soon as you walk into any one of the Mark Jermin Schools, the level of talent just blows you away. Mark and his team have succeeded in creating something very special and the passion and professionalism within the schools are a credit to them.”

The series, to be broadcast from January 10, is voiced by Ben Evans, a previous pupil, who is currently performing in the channel’s popular comedy High Hopes and in Mamma Mia! in the West End.

Eight students from the school were recently nominated for accolades at this year’s Annual Children in Entertainment Awards. Last year 25 pupils featured in Richard Curtis’ romantic comedy Love Actually. The school landed the film contract after supplying actors for the film About a Boy, which also starred Hugh Grant.