A CRADLEY Heath student was treated to an experience which was out of this world when he took part in an audio recording session of the iconic BBC show Doctor Who.

Ormiston Forge Academy sixth form student Harry Smith worked as a runner and did some vocal tracks in London after making contact with audio production company Big Finish.

During the recording, Harry got to meet the show’s Fifth Doctor, Peter Davison, who played the character from 1981 until 1984.

The production also starred Janet Fielding, Sarah Sutton and Matthew Waterhouse, who were all companions of the Fifth Doctor.

Harry, who picked up his A-level results over the summer and will soon start at the University of Worcester to study drama and performance, described the day as “the best ever”.

He added: “It’s given me a real taste for the profession. I want to be an actor and I learnt so much from everyone during the day. It was an incredible experience.”

For nearly twenty years Big Finish has been best known for their Doctor Who ranges of plays, but the company also produce a wide range of audio dramas featuring the characters from Sherlock Holmes, The Prisoner, The Avengers, Blake’s 7, Survivors and Torchwood.

Barnaby Edwards, recording director, said: “It's a measure of how good Harry was in the studio that I completely took him for granted after about 10 minutes. He seemed to fit in incredibly well.

“I asked him to join us on the wildtracks because it simply never occurred to me that he wasn't part of the team.

“It's a tribute to Harry that the cast instantly took to him. He can be rightly proud of himself.”

Harry will be credited as a runner on the audio release when it appears on general sale in 2018.

Andrew Burns, principal at Ormiston Forge Academy, said: “We try to give our students a line of sight into career pathways they are interested in.

“I can’t thank Big Finish and the team enough for this experience and for taking time with a young person and helping to nurture his dream.

“The legacy of a visit such as this has far reaching consequences.”