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ROLES: Fergus Drysdale won a part in The Wolf Man and a return in the second series of Lark Rise to Candleford

RISING child star Fergus Drysdale has landed his first movie role, starring alongside screen legend Anthony Hopkins.

The eight-year-old pupil at King's Lodge School, Chippenham, has also been snapped up for a second season playing Frank Timmins in the BBC's hit dramatisation of Lark Rise to Candleford.

The schoolboy will play an extra in the remake of the 1941 blockbuster The Wolf Man when filming comes to Lacock in May.

Crews are expected to film in Tithe Barn and in and around Church Street during the two-day shoot.

Keen footballer Fergus, who plays for Chippenham under nines, filmed most of his scenes in Lark Rise to Candleford in Neston with Sugar Rush actress Olivia Hallinan and screen mum and dad Claudie Blakley and Brendan Coyle in the summer of last year.

He said: "I had some lovely comments from some of the stars telling me to stick at it and that I was a natural in front of the camera. Apart from theatre school performances, I had never done anything like this before and it was fantastic."

The BBC adaptation of Flora Thompson's novel was filmed in Neston Park and at Hatt Farm in Box.

Although the filming was only scheduled for one month, it was extended because of torrential rain and the foot and mouth scare.

The entire cast, including Dawn French, Julia Sawalha and Olivia Hallinan, made Neston and Corsham their home while filming for the series.

The series, which was screened earlier this year, has been one of the BBC's highest rated shows in its Sunday night schedule, pulling in an average of 7.1million viewers.

A BBC spokesman said: "We have been delighted with the audience's positive and warm reaction to Lark Rise and have subsequently commissioned a second series of 12 episodes for transmission in 2009.

"All of the actors had a brilliant time filming in Wiltshire last time, despite the horrendous weather."

"We have to finalise a schedule of filming but anticipate at being in the area for a number of days at very least."

Filming of The Wolf Man was also delayed when high winds and rain battered Lacock and the surrounding area.

Filming has been re-scheduled for next month.

11:53am Thursday 27th March 2008

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