Jack Carroll to join David Walliams sitcom Big School
Jack Carroll, the young stand-up comedian who came to prominence via Britain's Got Talent, is to appear in the next series of the BBC sitcom Big School.
Carroll, who finished second in the 2013 series of the talent show after entertaining the judges and public with his stand-up routines, will be joining the cast of the sitcom as Dean, a new character at Greybridge School.
The sitcom, which stars David Walliams, Catherine Tate and Philip Glenister, was a hit when it was broadcast in August 2013. As a result, a second series is currently being prepared. The new run will see Dean being taken under the wing by Tate's character, Miss Postern.
David Walliams will reprise his role as Mr Church, the 40-something deputy Head of Chemistry who still has his heart and his head set on wooing Miss Postern; and Phillip Glenister returns as lothario gym Teacher Mr Gunn, whilst Frances de la Tour is back as plain-speaking Headmistress Ms Baron. Daniel Rigby as Mr Martin, Steve Spiers as Mr Barber and Joanna Scanlan as Mrs Klebb are also all back in the Greybridge staff room.
Jimmy Akingbola, who plays drug addict Mick in Rev, joins the main cast as Dr Dalton, a new teacher who will set pulses racing.
House Of Fools star Morgana Robinson is also joining the show. She will play Fenella Forbes, a best-selling children's author who arrives to give the pupils some advice on careers day.
Guest stars include Sylvestra Le Touzel as no-nonsense OFSTED Inspector Mrs Steele; Michele Dotrice, who played Betty in Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, as Mr Gunn's long-suffering mother; and Karen Taylor as Trish, the mother of one of the pupils at the school.
David Walliams says: "I am excited to be welcoming so many talented new faces to the show. And it's great to be working with Jack Carroll, who of course I met on Britain's Got Talent."
The BBC's Mark Freeland explains: "BBC One returns to the Big School staff room to find some half eaten biscuits, unmarked homework, the Head of Science asleep in the corner, but also some of the UK's funniest & much loved comedy actors."
This will not be the first acting role for Carroll, who has cerebral palsy. He has previously appeared in CBBC sitcom 4 O'Clock Club and acted as Mr Frazernagle in two series of the Vic Reeves CBBC show The Ministry Of Curious Stuff.
The new series of Big School is expected to start on BBC One in August.
Below is a video clip of Jack Carroll performing on the Britain's Got Talent final: