A PUPIL from Brimscombe Primary School is starring alongside comedian Russell Howard and actor Neil Morrissey in a BBC Two comedy on Boxing Day.

Eight-year-old Samuel Woodward plays Bert in A Gert Lush Christmas, a feel-good comedy about loved-up couple Dan and Lisa, set in Bristol.

Russell, who stars as Dan, brings his girlfriend, Lisa home over the festive period to meet his eccentric family for the first time.

Starring Neil as Bert’s Granddad Dave, the comedy is co-written by Russell and his real-life sister Kerry Howard, who so happens to play his on-screen sister Julie and is Bert’s mum.

Even though the filming took place in May, Sam’s mum Kate said that it’s only just hit the family that the film will be aired soon.

“It’s more real now that it’s actually happening,” she said.

Commenting on the week Sam spent filming on set in London she added: “Sam’s extremely confident, his first day on set was a baptism of fire because it was his biggest day of acting but he took it all in his stride.

“He absolutely rose to the challenge, I’m so proud of him.

“When we went to the set in London we hadn’t really appreciated that it was going to be so big.

“Sam had his own dressing room trailer with his name on it.

“He’s never done on-screen work before and they had to so the same scene over and over again.

“From 8am he would have school and then he’d finish filming at 9pm, by the end of the week he was shattered.”

She added: “On his last scene they gave him some presents. He absolutely loved every minute of it.

“Until now I don’t think it’s really sunk in, it was such a unique experience for him.”

Sam, who has been going to acting classes since he was four, also does the voice-over for a dog called Zuma in the show Paw Patrol on Sky on TV channel Nick Jr.

As of Christmas last year he’s been going to the Pauline Quirke Academy at St Matthews School, Cainscross.

The performing arts school has a not-for-profit casting agency called Quirky Kidz where he and his mum got wind of the role.

Kate said: “They were looking for a child who was eight or nine-years-old and a bit geeky or quirky to come for an audition in Bristol.”

After two successful auditions and a video showreel Sam got the job.

Although Kate is having 11 family members over on Boxing Day to celebrate and watch A Gert Lush Christmas, Sam cannot join them because it is an adult themed comedy.

He will have to wait until the next day to watch it so that Kate can fast forward the sections which are not appropriate for children.

A Gert Lush Christmas is on BBC 2 on Boxing Day at 9pm.

Watch the trailer here