A CHANCE of TV stardom has not turned young Charlie Samways' head.

The nine-year-old, from Salway Ash, says he is not ready to turn his back on his "regular life" just yet but admits he had a fantastic time after winning a role in the hit BBC1 show Casualty.

Charlie auditioned for a part in the popular Saturday night TV series on September 1 and just seven days later was on set in Bristol filming for a dramatic Christmas episode.

He plays one of a group of 15 foster children who visit a fair, but Charlie is leaving what happens next as a surprise. He said: "It was very exciting. They rang up and told my mum that I had to wear winter clothes. There were Christmas trees everywhere and a merry-go-round, and a Santa's grotto."

As well as experiencing how the show is made he also had the chance to meet some of the stars.

Charlie said: "I met James Redmond who plays Abs and he was nice and let me get a picture."

The budding young actor was not a big a fan of the drama after being put off by the amount blood when he accidently tuned in one day, but now the loyal youngster turns on every week.

Charlie said: "I'm watching it now but find it a bit weird - a bit gruesome. The first episode I saw, I switched on and there was just blood everywhere, but now I'm in it I've got to watch it.The teachers at school have all been saying they watch it too."

And although Charlie is enjoying his first taste of TV stardom he is not making any decisions about his future just yet. The Perrott Hill School pupil, who was given permission to take the day off school for filming, said: "I want to do a different job and then if they want me I would go to Hollywood for a film or whatever. I don't really know what I want to do yet as I'm still thinking about it, but I like my regular life.

"Most of the people in my year at school are saying 'wow you could earn £1,000 a day'. I didn't get paid but I don't really mind as it is good to be on TV."

Mum Sarah Samways said it was Charlie's second professional performance after appearing on stage at the Octagon, Yeovil, in February, as the son of Macduff in Macbeth.

She said: "Charlie is extremely outgoing and very clever and has always been so. He is now acting like a star and we have to watch Casualty on a Saturday night. It was a lovely experience for him and his first TV work."

Charlie has just finished at Stagecoach, a Saturday stageschool in Yeovil and remains on the books of its agency.

The Casualty episode featuring Charlie will be shown at Christmas.