IT is one of the UK's most popular detective dramas.

But ITV's Scott and Bailey also has a Lymm connection thanks to one of its leads and a 12-year-old rising star.

Suranne Jones, who plays DC Rachel Bailey and is one of the show's creators, used to live in the village while new to the crime series is Lymm High School pupil Ewan Phillips.

Ewan plays Bailey's nephew, Callum Newley, who finds it hard to adjust when he has to move into her small flat.

The Mardale Crescent resident has also previously gone on tour with The Full Monty after getting special permission from Lymm High and appeared in Channel 4's historical drama, The Mill, filmed at Quarry Bank Mill.

Ewan was discovered at Warrington's Little Stars stage school but now attends David Johnson Drama in Manchester and is represented by Scream Management.

He said: "I enjoy stage acting because it is a live performance in front of people and it gives me a buzz.

"I equally enjoy screen acting because it is very natural and I get my own trailer!"

Scott and Bailey is now in its fifth series and attracted 9.4million viewers at its peak.

Ewan added: "When all the cameras and lights are on you and they say action it's exciting and you know you've got to concentrate.

"But I don't really like watching myself on telly because I don’t like the sound of my voice."

There is another Warrington link to the drama as Sally Lindsay plays Ewan's on-screen mum after previously appearing in Ordinary Lies, which was filmed in the town.

She is also one of Scott and Bailey's creators.

Ewan said: "Suranne was very professional and happy to have her photo taken with me and Sally was very down to earth and funny."

His mum Clare added: "It seems very strange to sit down to watch Ewan on television. I am very proud of all his achievements but want to keep his feet firmly on the ground.

"It surprises me how Ewan takes nothing for granted and feels very lucky to get to do these things and takes it all in his stride."

This series of Scott and Bailey sees Bailey return to the north after a year in the vice squad in London.

Her partner DC Janet Scott (Lesley Sharp) has been holding the fort.

"The focus is always on the two main women and how real their relationship is," said Suranne, who came up with the idea for the series while chatting with her former Corrie colleague Sally Lindsay at the pub.

"We wanted to explore what that time apart does to people."

Suranne's career launched when she played feisty Karen McDonald in Coronation Street. She was just 21.

The 37-year-old has not stopped since, picking up a National Television Award for Doctor Foster and a Bafta nomination for her performance as Gemma in the series.

But Suranne admits she has still had her moments of doubts.

She added: "Actors are such a funny breed, in that we all have times where we go: 'I just don't want to do this any more'.

"It's nonsense, because then someone will offer you a job and you'll go, 'Yes, of course I'll do it'. That's the insecurity with our job, because you never know where the next role's coming from.

"You have to try and take control of those fears sometimes, and just go: 'No, it's fine. This is my job, I'm still doing it at 37. I've been doing it for 18 years now professionally. It's all right'.

"I like to develop ideas for friends. I like writing and I enjoy the production part a lot, actually. It gives you longevity in a career, where you know sometimes you might not always have the time to do the parts you want to do."

Ewan is among a number of young actors who started at Little Stars under the guidance of Thelwall teacher Lauren Kelly.

Other budding stars are seven-year-old Daisy Cooper-Kelly, who appeared as Daisy in BBC's The A Word, and Megan Bradley, 16, is in Harlan Coben’s new Sky drama, The Five.

- Scott and Bailey is on ITV1 on Wednesdays at 9pm.