An up and coming St Albans actor is now entertaining audiences in an award winning CBBC teen programme.

Herts Advertiser: Samuel Small (second to left) with the So Awkward cast.Samuel Small (second to left) with the So Awkward cast. (Image: Archant)

Marshalswick’s Samuel Small just premiered in the first episode of the third series of So Awkward - it follows three girls through school while coping with boys, puberty, and embarrassing parents.

The young prodigy plays a character called Robert Edwards. His acting journey started at five years old, discovering a love of acting at the Best Theatre Arts school in St Albans.

Now 16, he has already jumped headfirst into a star-studded career – with a line in popular TV show Game of Thrones and roles in theatre productions Matilda, The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, and Carousel already in his portfolio.

He has also performed in music videos alongside superstars Michael Bublé and Idina Menzel.

So Awkward won the Best Children’s Programme in the Broadcast Awards 2016, and Samuel is looking forward to series four.

Samuel said: “So Awkward and all other work has been so beneficial as it has given me the best insight into the career I hope to pursue.

“I’m so thankful for everyone that has helped me achieve my dream and I’m so grateful for this amazing opportunity.”

The first episode aired on Thursday (August 31), but was filmed last summer – Samuel had to keep his involvement to himself for a year.

His dad, Paul Small, said: “I am immensely proud of him, obviously I was proud of him before, but he has done really well.

“He is beyond excited, and it was difficult for him – he had to keep it all a secret for almost a year so he has been bursting at the seams, and now he is loving life.”

This is first time Samuel has been a regular on a TV series – Paul described it as “huge”.

“It’s the next step on the ladder - his dream and goal is to be a full-time, paid, actor working in TV and film so this is a big step.

“I could never have imagined at the time [when he started] where he is now, but something that I would say was clear from the beginning was his love of performing. He is an absolute performer - but he has surpassed our expectations.”

Samuel trained at the Sylvia Young Theatre School in London.