Horsforth actor Anthony Lewis is helping young people seek a career on stage or screen.

Totally Lit Premium Acting Academy has expanded to the North, and this week former Emmerdale star Anthony helped to launch it at the Yorkshire College of Music and Drama in Leeds.

Bradford youngsters are among those who will have the opportunity to act alongside experienced professional actors and showcase their talents to casting directors and agents. They will also produce a portfolio of work and end their term with a main stage production in a theatre venue.

Anthony, who is artistic director for Totally Lit! North, says: “We’re offering up to 40 young people an amazing opportunity to work on a regular basis with British talent. All the artists have such great reputations, not only as good actors, but as disciplined and focused professionals. Being a former child actor myself, I am aware of the huge amount of talent in this area and am very excited to be working with and encouraging the next crop of young talented actors.”

Anthony’s brother Matthew, who played Neville Longbottom in the Harry Potter films and starred in Kay Mellor’s The Syndicate filmed in Bradford, is among the academy’s patrons along with Bill Ward, currently appearing in Emmerdale, former EastEnders actress Gemma Bissix, and Katy Manning who has appeared in Doctor Who.

Free open workshops for 11 to 19-year-olds take place over the first two Sundays in February. For more details, go to totallylitnorth.com.