Lake District: Three Cumbrians to star in hit CBBC series Odd Squad

Lakeside Casting Agency, based in Carlisle, will have three of its actors appear in the global CBBC award-winning kids' series Odd Squad when the show airs on October 1.

Phil McKay, who runs the agency said: “Last year we were filming some acting showreels in the city when the phone rang during the filming.

"I took the call and it was the casting director from the BBC kids' series Odd Squad asking me if I had three Cumbrian speaking actors between 20yrs and 60yrs to audition for roles as islanders, being filmed in Bowness on Windermere in the Lake District.”

David James on set (Image: Lakeside Castings)

David James, 60, from Carlisle, now features alongside Kathryn Brown, 42, from Carlisle and Freddie Johnson, 20, from Kendal in the show after attending acting workshops in the city for years learning script work, improvisation and monologues - with Phil knowing these actors were right for the parts due to the many workshops they had partaken in.

David said: “None of us would never have done anything like this had we not come to the acting workshops in Carlisle and met Phil.

"We ended up on this huge film set with about 75 crew members... there was so much going on and with all the lights, cameras, costume and make-up.

Freddie enjoying some downtime during filming. (Image: Lakeside Castings)

“I had to run up and down this jetty in Bowness on Windermere saying my lines.”

Kathryn’s part involved her sitting in a rowing boat ‘all covered in polka dots with the cameras and sound equipment saying her lines loudly’.

Freddie, who played 'Islander Three' was given a guided tour in front of the cameras chatting about strange rocks at the side of the lake, he said: “It was great that Phil was on set with us all, it helped keep the nerves at bay plus he knows how all the filming on set and schedules work.”