Nick (represented by D&B Management), who had to dye his hair for the role, said: "Playing Hank has been absolutely amazing. I’ve been able to do a multitude of things I’ve never done before and this has been my biggest part to date, so it has been exciting and scary all at once. I have got to meet so many interesting and lovely people in the three months I’ve been away acting."
He added, "It has been very hard work. I’m in nearly all the scenes and then I’ve had to try and keep up with all my school work as well – my mum is really strict about this which is super annoying. It’s not been easy but it’s been a lot of fun.
I have loved filming in Halifax and meeting all the cast and crew has been awesome, especially Henry Winkler who filmed in Halifax with us for two weeks. It’s been really different for me living away from home from Monday to Friday – a bit like boarding school I guess! "
The 13x30-minute series - which is inspired by the book series Hank Zipzer: The World’s Greatest Underachiever– is based on Henry Winkler’s own experiences as a young boy growing up with dyslexia. Fast paced and funny, the series follows the everyday life of 12-year-old Hank Zipzer, a young man with a unique perspective on the world.
Hank is a boy whose glass is always half full… he just sometimes spills it everywhere. When problems arise he deals with them in a way no-one else would, which often sets him on a collision course with teachers, parents and his homework. Despite not always seeing eye to eye with everyone else, Hank has a big heart and always remains positive and hopeful that next time his plan will pay off. But, there’s usually a trail of chaos to clear up first…
From landing himself (and his classroom) in hot water – literally! – to ending up being pelted with tomatoes; trying out for the school play, to attempting to create the world’s scariest haunted house, there’s never a dull moment when Hank is around. With the help of his best friends, Frankie and Ashley, the young boy with the big heart goes on a multitude of mischievous adventures, but often ends up learning a valuable lesson or two along with way.
Henry Winkler plays music teacher Mr Rock (Henry’s real life teacher) . He said: “This series is certainly inspired by my childhood and the experiences I had because I learned differently to other people – but it’s a comedy first. The emotion is completely relatable but we exaggerate the humour. When I was young, teachers and other people used to tell me I’d never achieve anything because I’m in the bottom three percent academically in America. I never thought I’d be able to write books, let alone to have them made into a TV show. Outside of having my children, the Hank Zipzer series makes me incredibly proud.”
Hank Zipzer comes to CBBC this January, date and time to be confirmed.
Check out the rest of the young cast here.