ACTOR Connie M'gadzah has been leading a double life lately, splitting his time between recording sessions with The Archers and being a relief van driver for an Amersham franchise.

The 29-year-old divides his days between sessions with the rest of The Archers cast at BBC's Birmingham studios and working behind the wheel for Driver Hire Chiltern.

Regular listeners to the long-running BBC Radio 4 drama will know that Connie plays Kate Aldridge's boyfriend, Lucas Madikane, and the father of new baby Nolly.

They met in South Africa and, according to the storyline, he has come over to the UK to meet his new daughter for the first time. Kate is now trying to make up her mind on whether to return with him to South Africa.

Connie, who lives in High Wycombe, was born in Zimbabwe, though he has lived most of this life in this country. He was a student at Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College where he completed a BA Hons Literature, Art History and Culture Degree in 1996 before going up to London to work in publishing for four years.

While at college he joined the Jackie Palmer Stage School and last summer Connie made a conscious decision to switch careers to try his luck at acting.

He said: "Luckily it has borne fruit. It was Jackie Palmer who got me the audition for The Archers. Without her I would not have been able to get this position.

"The flexibility of working for Driver Hire fits in perfectly with my work as an actor."

Now Connie, who has also been an extra in TV programmes including The Bill and EastEnders, is recording a radio play in Manchester to be broadcast later this month.