A COMEDY writer and former soap star hopes to write a TV series after a pilot he penned was nominated for a national award.

Lee Otway, of Allerton, has had his show, School on Report, nominated in the Royal Television Society (RTS) Student Television Awards.

The sitcom pilot was filmed at Thornhill Community Academy in Dewsbury - the school where the hit Channel 4 documentary series Educating Yorkshire was filmed.

The programme is one of three shortlisted in the Awards' postgraduate comedy and entertainment section.

Mr Otway, 33, will now be battling for the prize at a ceremony held in London on June 5.

The actor, who played Bombhead in Hollyoaks from 2001 to 2006, was nominated by his tutors at York St John University, where he is in his final year of a masters degree in film production.

School on Report, which was originally called Educating Bitchfield, features famous faces from television, including Brookside star Louis Emerick and Waterloo Road's Mark Benton.

The pilot, billed as a mockumentary, focuses on a struggling school which is set to close.

A three-minute trailer of the pilot episode has been uploaded to YouTube. It also features performers, who play students, from the Yorkshire School of Acting, based in Forster Square, Bradford.

WARNING: Video features some strong language and adult content

Mr Otway, who also appeared in the pilot, said: "I'm over the moon to receive the nomination.

"I'm still pinching myself. My co-writer, Ross Marshall, and I are honoured to be recognised by the Royal Television Society for a project we believe in.

"It's amazing to get recognition from such a high place.

"This is a great platform for my future career as a filmmaker and director.

"It's wonderful to be mentioned in the same company as all of the other nominees.

"I never thought anything like this would happen. It's quite a big thing and quite a big achievement to be nominated."

Mr Otway said two TV companies had expressed an interest in turning the pilot into a series.

He added: "Since January, we have had a couple more offers come in from television channels to take on the programme.

"They are a couple of big TV companies, who have shown a real interest.

"After the award nomination, it's happening all at once.

"It's looking good to get it taken on by a TV company and turned into a series now.

"I would quite like to do more work behind the camera.

"I will be looking to do six episodes of 30 minutes each, to make up the first series."