There was a UK-wide casting process for the title role in Sinbad, Sky 1 TV’s 2012 tentpole drama that seemed to involve every agent in the country. Finally, after a few false starts, came the news: unknown Birmingham-born actor Elliot Knight had landed the role, and will spend the next eight months in Malta filming the 13-episode series.

Now he is on every casting director’s radar. “It feels like it can’t be real,” says the 20-year-old actor, who graduates this year from the Manchester School of Theatre. “We did our showcase for our final year and I was just grateful to get an agent. The next thing I knew, I was being put up for this role.” Speaking from location in Malta, he says it is the kind of action-packed role he dreamed of as a child. Future plans? “To be honest, at the moment I’ve just been overwhelmed by the chance I’ve had,” he says. “All I can say is I’d like a lot more of the same, and long may it continue.”

Contact: Natalie Payne - agent@paynemanagement.co.uk