WANNABE actor Paul Swaine had a taste of soap fame when he appeared in 'Brookside' alongside character Jimmy Corkhill.

Now, he is set to appear with Jimmy's TV brother Billy - actor John McArdle - in a BBC series called 'Born to Run'.

And the Priestley College student has proved he was born to act after winning an audition to appear on the stage of Liverpool's Playhouse Theatre in a forthcoming play about a boy band.

But despite rubbing shoulders with the famous, Paul says the highpoint of his career so far is getting an agent.

The 17-year-old, of Park Road, Great Sankey, said: "As soon as I got an agent, the phone would ring and he would say you're wanted.

Paul's 'Brookside' appearance shattered a few illusions about the soap: "I walked in and found myself in Grant's restaurant, which is actually their canteen.

"I appeared in little Jimmy Corkhill's funeral scenes. Dean Sullivan, who plays Jimmy senior, seemed very down, but he had to do a crying scene at 8.30 in the morning."

The secrets of the small screen were also revealed in 'Born to Run', when Paul had to shoot a marathon running scene.

"It was 7am and freezing cold but we had to pretend it wasn't. They kept spraying us with water so we'd looked hot and sweaty."

Multi-talented Paul has just finished touring Warrington schools in a play he co-wrote with fellow A' Level performing arts students.

And in the little spare time he has, he films and edits his own spoof mini-soap operas at his Park Road home.

He is already putting himself forward for the star role in a Granada drama series.

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