Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Advert star tony is real rocketman
Big hand for youngster’s TV role
A Chapelhall schoolboy landed a part in the muchtalked about John Lewis advert, with his hands playing piano as a young Elton John.
Budding actor Tony Lambie, seven, was cast in the eagerlyanticipated £7 million advert.
The St Andrew’s Primary School pupil was filmed as one of the young Eltons in the story about how the Christmas gift of a piano led to the megastar’s hugely successful singing career and global acclaim.
Young Tony, who lives with parents Tony and Colette and big sister Gracie, nine, spent three days with the production team in London, working alongside the other youngsters who were cast as Elton at various ages throughout his earlier life.
Although the final cut focused on a three-year-old Elton, Tony was filmed playing the piano and his hands are included in the ad which is now showing in TV and cinemas all over the country.
Young Tony said: “I had the best time of my life. If I was asked to do it all again and I didn’t appear in any shape or form I’d still be up for it.
“We got to see lots of famous sights in London and it was especially good as I’d never been to London before.”
Tony landed his part because he is a pupil at the Glasgowbased UK Theatre School, where he has been studying performing arts for two years.
The school’s castings agency works with production companies to secure parts in TV shows, movies and advertising campaigns.
Dad Tony, who works in IT, was in London with the youngster and said: “We had just the best time. I made sure I explained the whole process of being cast and filmed and the chances that you might not even appear.
“In the end it was only his hands that made their big appearance but it’s not everyone who can say their hands were used to portray a young Elton playing his piano.
“During the filming the crew decided that Tony should have a professional manicure to make sure his hands and nails were just perfect for the close-up.
“We’re chuffed to bits but also just so happy he had the most incredible experience and he took it all in his stride. Definitely a star in the making – or so we’re hoping.
“Tony will be getting an extraspecial Christmas gift thanks to his hands’ starring role.”
Tony’s appearance in the advert is the latest success for students at the UK Theatre School.
His big sister Gracie has already appeared in a Royal Bank of Scotland advert.
Through the school’s UK casting agency, students are called up for a string of casting opportunities throughout the year.
School principal Lizanne Thomson said: “We’re absolutely delighted about Tony’s success in landing his part in the John Lewis ad.
“We were completely in the dark about which major retailer it was but as time went on we started to realise that it was the big Christmas ad for John Lewis.
“Even though in the final cut it was only Tony’s hands that were shown, the fact he was portraying such a major character as a young Sir Elton John is pretty impressive.
“And young Tony had the most amazing time with his parents on location in London.
“As well as coaching students in the performing arts, we work with them and our castings agency to give them opportunities in getting involved in exciting projects in the movie, TV and advertising worlds.
“It gives the student early experience of what it’s like to be involved in full- scale productions.
“With locations ranging from Los Angeles to Hamburg and Romania to Uist, our students and their families get some memorable experiences.”
We’re chuffed to bits but just so happy he had the most incredible experience and took it all in his stride