Staff from the Bolton Evening News had a brush with stardom when they spent the day filming as extras on comedian Peter Kay’s new TV series.

But deputy editor Ian Savage and photographer Nigel Taggart didn’t have to worry about their acting ability being tested too much – as they were drafted in to play a reporter and a photographer!

The new show Road to Nowhere is a spin-off from the cult hit Phoenix Nights and follows the adventures of Max and Paddy – the rogue doormen of the working men’s club who were last seen driving away in their motor home.

Ian and Nigel were lucky enough to spend a day with the film crew and made their small-screen debuts waiting outside a court to interview Max and Paddy as they emerged.

Deputy editor Ian (centre) with actors Patrick McGuinness and Peter Kay

Ian told Holdthefrontpage: “We didn’t have to stretch our acting skills too far – we were just in the background really. I don’t think Al Pacino has got a lot to worry about!

“We had to shoot the scene 14 times – which I’d like to point out was not down to our incompetence as actors! Peter is a perfectionist and has to get all the different angles on the shot.

“So it took three and-a-half hours just to get between two and three minutes of footage in the can.”

The Bolton Evening News was the only newspaper allowed on set for a sneak preview of the new show.

Ian said: “Peter wanted to invite only the Bolton Evening News to see the filming. He and I go back a long way and have a great relationship.

“He said that as we were coming along we could appear on camera and that it would be a good laugh, which, as you can imagine, it was.”

Ian said it was fascinating to have the behind the scenes experience and witness Peter Kay in the role of both actor and director.

He said: “The crew were very well organised, but it’s like a military operation and has to be when they are filming 11-12 hours a day.”

And although Ian doubts he will be making any career moves into the performing arts, he did manage to score himself a second appearance on the show.

He said: “Nigel and I were there on the Friday and I went back on Monday to show Peter the pictures we had taken. They needed another extra to walk towards the camera so I volunteered and I’m going to be on the show twice now!”