RISING STAR’S DRAMA SCHOOL ORDEAL Bullies made my life hell... but now I’m on Cold Feet
HANDSOME young actor Cel Spellman has every reason to smile – as he’s beaten the bullies who could so easily have ruined his life.
Cel suffered in silence when he moved to drama school far from home and two older boys made his life a misery. But the 21-year-old has come out on top.
He has landed a starring role in the hit comedy Cold Feet, which returns tomorrow after a 13-year break.
And Cel drew on his experience of being bullied for his character Matthew, who plays a troubled teen who runs into all sorts of problems at boarding school.
Matthew is the son of Adam, played by James Nesbitt, and Rachel, who died in a car crash in the last series in 2003.
It is the biggest role of Cel’s career and he said winning the part was a dream come true.
Secret
It is all a far cry from when the Manchester lad was 13 and lodging in London after winning a scholarship to the Sylvia Young Theatre School.
The actor was tormented at a boarding house by two boys who were a year and two years older than him.
On one occasion he was force-fed toothpaste until he was sick and other times he was hit with a belt.
But he kept the treatment a secret for nine months before seeking help. He said: “There would be days of dread. Then there were some great nights when everything was fine.
“Like Matthew, I preferred to deal with problems on my own, but there comes a breaking point.”
Cel said at first all three of them got on but the play fights got rougher and he suffered bruising.
He said: “They’d start playing pranks like threatening to call a girl and say things about me, or hiding my things.
“It sounds such a small thing but when you can’t escape and it’s happening regularly, you’re constantly on edge. I hated it most when we were sent to bed. That’s when it would all kick off.
“They hit me with a belt once. I called my best friend from school and asked if I could stay with him.
“One night they put a chairhair on top of me. One of them em sat on the chair and the he other squeezed a tub of f toothpaste into my mouth. I threw up under the chair but every time I tried to get up I couldn’t. I wass trapped.”
But Cel put up with h it because he didn’t want to upset his teacher dad John, mum mBiddy Biddy and younger brother Ciarnan. He said: “It was hard for them to see me move to London when I was so young.”
He finally got help when the mum of his best friend alerted the school, which moved him to a happier home with Barbara, a friend of Sylvia’s. Cel said: “It was the best time of my life. She was like my grandma figure. I love her and we are still in touch.” The unassuming, sincere star now campaigns for many charities – includingincludi several anti-bullying ones.one Cel, who has appeared i n cop drama Blue Murder,M school series Waterloo Road and presented CBBC’s Friday Download show, felt at homeh making Cold Feet. He was f i l ming in Gorton,Go Manchester, with John Thomson,Thom 47, Fay Ripley, 50, Robert Bathurst, 59, and Hermione Norris, 49, as well as Nesbitt, 51. He said: “To be on set with that cast was a real privilege and a learning experience.” He laughed: “Early on we filmed some scenes at Old Trafford. Jimmy (Nesbitt) supports Manchester United and I’m a City fan, so I’d be sure to let him know when my team was doing well.”
He said John was the joker on set and “one of the funniest men I have ever worked with.”
Romance
In fact, at times, the laughter flowed so easily that the actors had to pause between takes to control the giggles.
Cel’s character finds romance later in the series. So how does he feel about becoming a sex symbol?
He looked a little embarrassed and laughed: “You’ve got to embrace it. I’m single and not looking for anything but if the right lady comes along, then great.”
He said he hoped a new generation and the original fans will watch the series. Cel added: “I’m going to enjoy every second because I know how lucky I am.”