Tom Brittney will lead the cast of the BBC Three drama ‘Make Me Famous’.
The 29-year-old actor will play the main role in Reggie Yates’ screenplay about washed-up reality star Billy, who struggles to balance the afterglow of fame, social media and tabloid gossip.
The one-hour drama is the latest in BBC Three’s highly-acclaimed shows which explore social issues that affect young audiences, and Tom is thrilled to be able to tell the story.
He said: "Every now and then you get sent a script through that really stands out and this was one of them. When I saw the storyline and synopsis, I knew it was a story that needed to be told. I hope Billy’s story will give audiences more compassion towards the people they see on screen."
The ‘Outlander’ star will be joined by Amanda Abbington, Aiysha Hart, Nina Sosanya, Emma Rigby, Trieve Blackwood-Cambridge, and Tilly Keeper for Reggie’s single installment.
The former CBBC presenter – who has been working in the industry since he was eight years old – wrote the drama using his own experience on camera and after watching others struggle with fame.
He explained: "I’ve spent my whole career working in television and seen everything it has to offer- the best of it, the worst of it, how much it can be a force for good, and the way it changes lives."
Reggie, 36, hopes ‘Make Me Famous’ will "resonate" with audiences who have watch stars be ridiculed online and in the press as a way to make a change in society.
He added: "Reality TV is loved by those in it and those who watch it- but there are issues that come with that and this felt like an opportunity to tell a story which explores the relationship between reality TV, social media and fame. It’s been a year in the making but it’s great to finally share this film with the BBC Three audience who I feel have grown up alongside me and I hope will resonate with our main character, Billy, who’s very close to my heart."