AN AMBITIOUS TV pilot giving Oswestry youngsters the chance to work alongside famous actors is in the balance after injury to former Blue Peter star Peter Purves.

He had been filming at Gobowen’s Derwen College for months on Henry House, a comedy drama set in a care home, returning to acting after 50 years when he was injured three weeks before it was set to wrap.

Gareth Thomas, from Rocking Horse Media – makers of the pilot – said this led to production being immediately shut down and it can only continue with a whole new shooting schedule for the autumn.

However, this would also mean having to re-finance the project from scratch after having already had to raise a sizeable amount to fund it once the first time around. 

“Any support that you can give to help the campaign will go such a long way into helping ensure that the hard work of our young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), in particular, does not go to waste," said Gareth, who is also autistic.

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“This isn’t about our famous faces, not really.

“They’ve already got careers.

“But unfortunately for our young people with SEND, this might be the best and only opportunity many of them get in this industry.

“If Henry House goes, then their best chances go with it."

The project, which has recently won a national award for its work with the SEND community, was helping students from Derwen College to gain unique work experience opportunities on a professional TV set.

As well as Peter, they were able to work alongside the likes of Annette Badland (Ted Lasso), Ian McNeice (Doc Martin), Mark Benton (Waterloo Road) and Simon Fisher-Becker (Doctor Who).

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Some of the young talents with SEND involved have even gone on to gain major roles within the production.

Gareth added: “A crowdfunding campaign was set up on Indiegogo as one of a number of fundraising streams to help save the production and, despite getting off to a solid start, there is not long left to go until the campaign ends.”

If you can help support the campaign to help save the care home comedy drama project that is about SEND people, and made by them, then head here.