Netflix Bridgerton success for Newbury Youth Theatre's Ben Prout

IF you are a fan of the Netflix phenomenon that is Bridgerton, keep an eye out for the new series - available now - where former Newbury Youth Theatre member Ben Prout has landed the role of the Marquis of Ashdown.

Ben was a drama GCSE and A-level student at Park House School and was signed by the Spotted Talent Agency at Pinewood studios, back in 2019 after impressing the agency director following the school’s sell out performance of GREASE.

No stranger to acting roles, Ben has been performing since the age of five and was part of NYT between 2018 and 2019 when devised the productions Of Rags and Bones and The Wizard of Winterbourne were taken to the Edinburgh Fringe.

NYT co-director Tony Trigwell-Jones said: "Ben joined us in 2017 and took a significant role in two of our Edinburgh Festival tours. An open and playful performer, he always brought an effortlessness to his roles. He is also a gifted musician - we're sure he will continue to make progress with his career and wish him every success."

Since 2019 Ben has appeared in an Oatly TV commercial, an Autotrader commercial and the Coca-Cola Christmas advert in 2021 where Ben’s character switches on the Christmas lights.

He's already a gold award winner for Best Actor in a Historical Drama as his showreel was so impressive his agent entered it into the New York Best Actor Awards.

Ben filmed his scenes for Bridgerton early last year and has had to keep the secret until now. He thoroughly enjoyed playing the role of the Marquis and has loved being a part of such a special production, performing alongside a very talented cast and crew.

Ben's agency is confident he'll go far in the business: “Ben is an immensely talented actor and has a very bright future ahead of him.”