At just a few hours old baby George Alfie Dobbins was already set to make it big.

For the Bingley tot was selected by Yorkshire Television to star in a new medical drama alongside household names like actress Wendy Craig, of BBC sitcom Butterflies fame, and Michael Starke, best known as loveable Sinbad in Channel 4 soap Brookside.

George, pictured, has been charming cast and crew on the set of new ITV drama series The Royal - a spin-off of popular ITV series Heartbeat - which is being filmed at St Luke's Hospital in Bradford.

As reported in the Telegraph & Argus, filming began earlier this year on the new medical drama, set in the 1960s. Baby George was picked to appear in it when he was just a few hours old.

Proud parents Matthew Dobbins and Tina Crosswaite said their firstborn was the centre of attention on the set.

"He was so well behaved and was asleep for most of his scenes," said Matthew, 25.

"It was amazing to watch him being filmed, seeing him so tiny and knowing that he will be appearing on TV.

"We've taken loads of photographs of the scenes he's in so that when he grows up we can show him.

"Who knows, maybe this will be the birth of his acting career."

Matthew, director of Atkinsons Kitchens and Bedrooms in Bradford, said he re-lived the experience of his son's arrival in the world when they filmed the baby's "birth" at the hospital for the TV series. "It really brought it all back to me and there was a tear in my eye," he said.

"But the hardest thing to take in is the fact that George is playing the part of a baby girl. I'm not sure how he'll take that when he's older!"

George's mum, Tina, 25, said she was initially worried about letting her tiny son take part in the series within days of being born.

"I didn't want people prodding and poking him but they've been extremely good with him and we've enjoyed the experience," she said.

George, who was born on August 6 and weighed in at 8lb 7oz, will be seen on TV in the New Year when The Royal is screened.