Soaper-star baby in Emmerdale role

Jul 7 2008 by Neil Atkinson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

LITTLE Luis Townley is becoming a real soap star – at the tender age of 11 months!

Luis, of Denby Dale, is hitting the headlines at the centre of a baby-swap drama in Emmerdale, playing Arthur in one of Britain’s top soap operas.

And the toddler takes the rigours of filming scenes for the show at the set in the grounds of Harewood House in his tiny stride.

Proud mum Julie Hirst, who accompanies Luis for the filming, said: “He just loves it.

“People are amazed how he can adapt to anything they want. If he is required for a sleeping scene he can, and he can cry when they need it.

“He’s a really good baby and seems to love the filming”.

Luis, of Gilthwaites Crescent, plays Arthur, the baby who was mistakenly switched at birth in hospital.

In the show, he is now settled with his real parents, the Rev Ashley Thomas and his wife Lauren.

Luis lives with mum, dad Ian Townley and five-year-old brother James.

Julie said: “It was through a friend that I was introduced to Sue Fitton, of Huddersfield, who runs the Rebel School of Theatre Arts and casting Agency.

“He signed up at the end of April and by May he was in the studios filming for the show.

“His first TV appearances came last month and he has been at the centre for a big storyline. The filming has finished for now but we are back in the studios later this month for another batch.

“It’s a show I love and he seems to enjoy it all”.

Luis got his name from his dad Ian, who is a season ticket holder at Liverpool’s Anfield ground and named the youngster after former midfielder Luis Garcia.

Sue Fitton, who runs the agency, said: “Luis is a little star and he’s now the fourth Huddersfield youngster in Emmerdale.

“Sophia Moore, who plays Sarah Sugden, has been in a while and we also have twins Gabrielle and Sebastian Darling, as the Hope twins Cathy and Heath.

“The kids love it and it’s great for the family album of the future”.