Pupils interview TV detective Martin Compston
TV detective Martin Compston went beyond the Line of Duty to help pupils at his former Inverclyde high school.
The actor, who is from Greenock, took part in a 50-minute question and answer session with drama students from St Columba’s High in Gourock – the local secondary he attended.
Martin is used to thwarting criminals as DS Steve Arnott in the hit BBC One crime drama Line of Duty, but was instead faced with around a dozen pupils armed with a series of questions.
.jpg)
St Columba's High chat to
Martin Compston online
Like the students, he is having to stay at home in Las Vegas to help the fight against the spread of coronavirus and offered to put his new-found free time to good use by chatting to the drama class at his old school.
Martin took to Twitter after the video chat to praise the pupils.
He said: “Really enjoyed it. Some cracking questions.
“Highly recommend to my fellow thespians or casting director/agent pals to reach out to their old high schools and get a chat with the drama students. Opportunity to part with the little wisdom we have while everyone has downtime.
“Thoroughly enjoyed it.”
Martin is currently starring in gripping BBC One drama, 'The Nest', parts of which were filmed locally, including Lyle Hill in Greenock.
Provost of Inverclyde, Councillor Martin Brennan, said: “This is first class - an eminent actor contributing to the educational experience of pupils at his former Inverclyde school.”
The use of video chat is one of the many online tools being used to continue learning during the schools shutdown.
Councillor Jim Clocherty, Inverclyde Council’s Convener of Education, said: “While the coronavirus pandemic has caused so much disruption to all our lives, this is a shining example of how our young people and staff are turning a negative into a positive and embracing technology to continue learning outside the classroom.
“A huge thank you to Martin for this unique opportunity for the pupils and well done to the staff at St Columba’s for pulling it together.”
Acting depute head teacher, Collette McGeehan, is being credited for Martin’s guest appearance.
Mrs McGeehan said: “He got in touch with me just after the lockdown was announced and offered to do an online chat with drama students if they were interested.
“We were delighted to take him up on his offer and I liaised with Lynsey Currie, our drama teacher, who spoke to the pupils and organised their questions beforehand.
“He was very down to earth and offered lots of advice about how to get into acting.
“What an inspiration for our pupils to talk to such a successful actor and realise that he came from Greenock and went to the same school as they do.”