Schoolboy has role in new Wicked film

A Worcestershire teenager is appearing alongside Hollywood stars including Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande and Jeff Goldblum in the new film adaptation of the musical Wicked.

Fifteen-year-old Arlo Turner, from Great Witley, plays a "Munchkinland kid" and utters the film's first line: "Good news - the witch is dead!"

Arlo, who is a year 11 student at the Chantry School in Martley, previously appeared on screen in a non-speaking role in the recent musical adaptation of Matilda.

He auditioned for Wicked in July 2022 but only learned he had been successful eight months later.

Arlo has long had a taste for the performing arts - he used to attend the Beat Breakerz dance school in Worcester, and now goes to Shaun Paul Smith Dance Academy in Redditch.

His mum Charlotte said when he was younger he would dance alongside buskers playing music in the street.

But she added she had always tried to instill humility and kindness in him.

"When he was auditioning, we talked about how important dance was but also how you conduct yourself," she said.

"You are one of many and you are part of a team, and Arlo just exudes that through and through."

Arlo said he couldn't be more grateful for the support of his family and friends - among whom he can now count Ariana Grande, who he met on set.

"She was so nice. We actually got to chat… I was a bit starstruck, but at the end of the day you see she’s just another person there and everybody’s just doing their job.

"We talked about not growing up too fast. Obviously being in the industry is amazing, but you’ve really got to enjoy your time as kids, because it goes quite fast."

Wicked is in cinemas now.