HE MAY only be eight, but little Lewis Hardaker is already a star in front of the camera.

Lewis has raked in thousands of pounds with a series of top contacts in the past 12 months.

The Brough youngster was a hit with directors the moment he signed up to Ology Kids Casting a year ago.

He is now starring in the new Kingsmill commercials and has already graced our screens as the face of DFS.

"It has been a good experience," Lewis said.

"I have been down to London quite a lot of times. I have been out and met new people.

"The best part has been staying off school. I have had about two weeks off school so far, although Mum and Dad make sure I catch up.

"I sometimes get nervous for auditions but I am not normally nervous.

"I like performing in front of people."

Lewis was asked to be the face of a Nintendo campaign, but was unable to take up the offer due to his Kingsmill commitments.

The Hull Collegiate pupil has earned £4,000 in the past year, but has only spent £60, which he splashed out on a remote control helicopter when on holiday.

His mother Liz, who is a former model, puts Lewis's success down to his confidence.

She said: "He has always been a performer.

"He is a very outgoing little boy.

"Everywhere he goes, he will talk to anybody – adults and kids.

"Sometimes it can be quite hard work, but he has a very lovely manner.

"Casting directors don't just want good looks – although Lewis is very bonny – they want confidence.

"A lot of kids look really nervous at the auditions and don't want to leave their parents.

"Lewis just marches into his interviews without his father."

Lewis was signed up to Ology Kids Casting, based near Manchester, last February.

Within a day, he was called to auditions for Comfort fabric conditioner.

He saw off competition from hundreds of other children to make it to the shortlist of just four boys and was eventually chosen as the understudy.

Just a month later the call came for DFS auditions in Leeds, which led to Lewis appearing on our screens for the first time last summer.

He is currently appearing alongside Tara Bedwin and Morgan George in the Kingsmill 50/50 advertising campaign and has just finished shooting a catalogue for upmarket tiling retailer Lapicida Ltd.

Laura Beckford, managing director of Ology Kids Casting, said Lewis made an "instant impression" when he came to the agency.

She said: "He's confident, cheeky without being precocious, sociable and a genuinely sweet, fun character.

"He also seems to have an innate awareness for professionalism, which is fantastic for his age and made us realise he would be successful.

"We believe 'there are no limits, just beliefs' and Lewis, I'm sure, will achieve anything he desires."

His parents say they will support Lewis in whatever direction he chooses to go.

Liz, 51, said: "I can definitely see him going on to do something in the public eye.

"He is no shrinking violet."

Will Ghali, director of brands at Allied Bakeries, said: "From the moment he walked into his first audition, Lewis was charming, engaging and proved himself to be a great actor.

"He was fun, friendly and exactly what we were looking for to demonstrate the fresh, new Kingsmill brand.

"He played the role so well in casting that he made the decision to choose him really easy."