Jack Lowden makes appearance in old school's show

Award-winning actor Jack Lowden has been delighting audiences at his old school in the Borders by making an appearance in its latest show.

The Slow Horses star has been part of Earlston High School's production of Singin' in the Rain.

Principal teacher of expressive arts Jeff Thomson described the actor's involvement as "absolutely unbelievable".

The sell-out show began on Monday and finished on Thursday night.

The 34-year-old Bafta-winner has a worldwide reputation from his roles in films including Dunkirk, Fighting with My Family and Benediction.

He grew up in the village of Oxton in the Borders and attended Earlston High School.

In each performance of the show he appeared in a short video, reading the lines: “Hello! This is a demonstration of a talking picture. Notice, it is a picture of me and I am talking."

Mr Thomson told The Times: "It’s amazing, what a guy.

"He looks like James Bond in it, he’s got his bow tie on and all that."

Lowden's former teacher - who retires at the end of next week - said his ex-pupil had kept in touch.

He said: “We are in contact regularly.

"But it's nice to know no matter how far he’s gone already, he remembers his roots. It’s lovely.

"At first he was saying, should you not be getting a pupil to do this? But it is meant to be an older person."

Lowden was involved in every shool show during his time at Earlston and played multiple roles in the likes of South Pacific, Les Miserables, Guys and Dolls and Buddy.

Head teacher Alex Johnson said Mr Thomson would be sorely missed when he retired.

"A lot of the good reputation of the school comes from the shows," he said.

"We have had a huge number of young people who have gone on to West End productions.

"It's a huge breeding ground for talent and also inclusivity."

He said the shows could help young people to "come out of their shell".

"Jeff is so charismatic, he can communicate really well with young people of all ages and stages," he said.

"He is able to direct and support them.

"He has a huge charisma that’s infectious and he’s going to be a massive loss to the school."

The actor has spoken in the past about the debt he owed to the Galashiels Operatic Society for the shows he performed in while he was growing up.

He credited them and school shows for starting him out on his way to major motion picture roles.