Region's youngsters audition for Todd

Depending on your generation, he is either Tucker Jenkins, Mark Fowler or Gabriel Kent.

But Todd Carty's latest role sees him step behind the camera to direct his debut feature film, The Perfect Burger.

Set in the West Midlands, the film is part Sweeney Todd, part Roald Dahl and features a cast and crew of local youngsters. Carty, fresh from his hapless appearance on Dancing on Ice, held the last round of auditions at Wolverhampton's Newhampton Arts Centre yesterday.

The 45-year-old got up at 5am and travelled from his London home to see the the final batch of hopefuls whittled down for the main seven parts. Scores of students from colleges in Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury, Stoke, Burton and North Warwickshire have auditioned for the movie, which is funded by Co-operative British Youth Film Academy.

The actor told the Express & Star: "I have directed six episodes of Doctors for BBC1 but this is my first feature film. I'm trying as many different hats as possible. If an opportunity arises, whether it's in front of the camera or behind, I'll step up and take it.

"I've been really impressed with the talents of the young actors here today, what they lack in experience, they make up for in enthusiasm. Today, we've been screentesting and checking out the dynamics between the actors."

Shooting for the film will begin in a month in Hinckley and last for five weeks. Students who tried out for roles ranged in age from 16 to 35, among them was 21-year-old Dani Tonks from Tettenhall, Wolverhampton.

The City of Wolverhampton College performing arts student said: "It's a little nerve-wracking but mainly just exciting. It's great to work with established names like Todd and it's a great opportunity for young actors in the area."

Todd said most of the youngsters knew him from his role in The Bill as dodgy policeman Gabriel Kent or his appearance on Dancing on Ice. "I haven't put the skates on since the show," he admitted. "But I may take my sons this summer, or rather they'd take me.

"They were really supportive of me when I was on the show and I could hear them shouting 'go on daddy'. I could always release a DVD 'How Not to Skate'.

"But how people know me really depends on their generation, it crosses all ages from Tucker right through to the skating.

"I couldn't say what the secret of my success is. I started really young when I was four and I remember one of my teachers saying 'turn up on time, be polite and be professional' and that seems to have worked for me."