A BRADFORD-born actor says he is thrilled to have landed a part in a BBC1 drama to be broadcast next week.

Thirty-one-year-old Jag Sanghera, who now lives in Saltaire, has been a professional actor for 10 years and has recently enjoyed playing the part of a policeman in Coronation Street, notably the one who arrested Robert Preston, aka Tristan Gemmill, for drink-driving in August.

He has two further episodes coming up in December, plus a part in the next series of Last Tango in Halifax.

“Things are going well despite the competition,” said Sanghera who now lives in Saltaire.

“What I am particularly thrilled about is getting a part in Moonstone, a five-part adaptation of Wilkie Collins’ novel which is believed to be the first ever detective novel and which combines mystery with romance and adventure. It’s set in India at the time of the British Raj and in the UK and was filmed around Ripon. I play a man simply named Guardian, who is one of two guardians of a priceless moonstone which is stolen.

“It’s being shown during the daytime over five consecutive days from October 31 and has already had some good write-ups, not least for its leading actors: Cold Feet actor John Thomson and Miranda’s Sarah Hadland.”

Sanghera, who graduated with a BA (Hons) degree in acting from the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts in 2007, has also appeared on television in Kismet Road, in short parts in films Where You From? Tyrannosaur and Gravediggers, and in stage productions of Mela!, Beast Market and Mind the Gap, along with a role for BBC Radio Asian Network drama Silver Street.

He is also a professional role-play actor.

“I embrace any character in any acting format but I love British drama and British characters. I also like to champion the North. I love Bradford. Bradford Grammar School was my footing for drama.

“I feel I have an advantage in that I am Asian and British. There is less competition for roles among Asian men than, say, white British men and I intend to exploit that advantage. It is a tough market out there.”