AN INGLETON man has hit the big-time after landing a lead role in one of Britain's top TV soaps.
Tom Brown, who goes by the stage-name of Tom Lister, is the actor behind Emmerdale's newest bad-boy Carl King -- Scott Windsor's sly sidekick who is threatening to rock the foundations of the Tate family empire, reports Ellie Hargreaves.
The fresh-faced young actor explained that the transition from playing the lead roles in productions at Settle High School to performing for millions on prime time TV was gradual. "I have always had an interest in drama," enthused Mr Brown, who can still be seen patronising Ingleton's public houses. "After fooling around in my youth I started to take a more serious interest when I joined the sixth-form and took part in the school productions."
After this initial taste of acting, the budding thespian deferred a university place studying English and drama to tour the United Kingdom with a Christian theatre company. Drama college followed and, after finding an agent, came theatre work and some profile-raising one-off roles in shows including Heartbeat, Doctors and The Bill.
The big-time beckoned in October 2003 when he was called to the Yorkshire Television Studios, in Leeds, for a successful audition in Emmerdale. Since his first appearance on the soap on February 6, viewers have seen Tom play a prominent role in the fictional village action. This has meant a heavy workload for the newcomer after working for his family's Ingleton-based builders and funeral directors.
Filming six days a week with some of Britain's best-known faces had initially been "quite a strange feeling", but he insists that he is taking it all in his stride.
"I'm just taking things as they come. Emmerdale is a brilliant break for me, it's regular work and really good exposure. The show's giving me something to get my teeth into and it's an exciting step along the way.
"I have yet to be recognised although Ingleton folk have certainly been paying attention. But you can rest assured my friends and family will be keeping my feet firmly on the ground."
You can see Tom from Sunday to Friday on ITV from 7pm.
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