Along with #HoodDocumentary's Kayode Ewumi

Murder in Successville star Tom Davis has been picked as one of the year's brightest new creative talents by Bafta.

The comic is one of 18 names on the academy' 'Breakthrough Brits', which were announced last night.

Davis came into comedy after a decade working as a scaffolder, harbouring aspirations to work in comedy but seeing it as unrealistic.

But in 2009 a friend got a job as a runner on Bo' Selecta, so they decided to get a camera and film some sketches, which they sent to star Leigh Francis. When he saw the tape, Francis invited Davis to appear on the show, and he subsequently landed roles in TV shows such as Lemon La Vida Loca, The Morgana Show, Bad Education and Plebs.

In 2015, Davis co-created, wrote and starred in Murder in Successville – a unique hybrid of improv, reality show and detective spoof – and this year had a stand-out role in Alice Lowe's film Prevenge.

He says he his building site work ethic to his comedy, getting into the office early. 'I can't think of anything more exciting to get up for in the morning than comedy,' he said.

And he told those who feel like the TV industry is a closed door to start making their own things, telling Bafta: 'It's free to make mistakes at the beginning, and that's the only way you learn.'

The Breakthrough Brits are selected from the worlds of film, television and gaming by an international panel, including Gone Girl actress Rosamund Pike and Suffragette director Sarah Gavron.

Also on the list is Kayode Ewumi, who created the YouTube comedy #HoodDocumentary, which was picked up by BBC Three for a series of shorts after attracting more than two million viewers. He went on to play new staff member Mr Conway in this summer's Are You Being Served? remake.

He said: 'this time last year I was about to start a theatre course, and now I'm here as a Breakthrough Brit, it's amazing.'

Others Bafta Breakthrough Brits include Ruth Madeley who was nominated for best actress at this year's Baftas for her debut lead role in Don't Take My Baby, and Roots actor Malachi Kirby, who also appears in the current season of Black Mirror.

Published: 26 Oct 2016