A student from an Ipswich college will be hitting the small screen in February, playing a role in a hit BBC show.

Suffolk New College student Matt Ford has been given his first taste of a TV set after bagging a role in Call the Midwife, set to air on February 5.

The 21-year-old performing arts student met one of the cast, Zephryn Taitte who plays Cyril Robinson, during some acting classes organised by Mr Taitte and local charity, 4YP.

Mr Taitte recently became a patron for 4YP, working with youngsters using drama and the creative arts as a tool for youth engagement and crime prevention.

Ipswich Star: Matt with Zephryn Taitte, who plays Cryil in Call the MidwifeMatt with Zephryn Taitte, who plays Cryil in Call the Midwife (Image: 4YP/SNC)

At the end of the weekly group of acting classes, Mr Taitte asked those involved if any of them would like to put their names forward to be extras in a future show.

Matt, from Ipswich, subsequently sent his CV and some headshots to a casting director and found out he had been chosen.

He said: "I saw some of the cast at the shoot in London and it was an amazing experience to be in something this big.

"I'm only in one scene but being on set felt like a dream.

"My mum is a huge fan of the show and we will watch it together when it airs, we may even have a small tipple.

Ipswich Star:

"People watch the programme all over the world so it's great to have an acting credit for this on my CV.

"Hopefully this will open some doors for me and I am grateful to 4YP for giving me this opportunity."

In the future, Matt said that he would like to work in theatre production, as he "loves the adrenaline of live performance."

Matt, who has autism, continued: "Growing up, some people said I wouldn't get anywhere because of my autism, but I have worked hard.

"I had a role in our hit production of Legally Blonde at the college and now I have been in Call the Midwife."

Matt's episode of Call the Midwife will air on February 5 on BBC One.