Borders film star Jack Lowden to judge school talent contest

The 29-year-old has filmed a two-minute clip encouraging current students at the East End school to take part in that competition, called Earlston’s Got Virtual Talent, and he’ll also judge entries to come up with a shortlist of 10.

The winner will then be decided by a public vote.

Pupils have until Monday, June 1, to submit entries up to 90 seconds long of themselves displaying talents such as acting, singing, dancing or cooking.

Introducing his clip, posted on the school’s Facebook page, the Oxton actor, seen in films including 2014’s ’71 and 2018’s Calibre, tells students he hopes that, unlike him, they’re not getting bored during the current coronavirus lockdown and spending too much time sitting around playing on games consoles.

“To marry in with your very important coursework, we thought we would do something a little bit more exciting,” he continues.

“What we’re doing is asking you guys to send in 90-second clips – or 60-second clips, whatever you want – of you doing your talent, and that can be anything from cooking, acting, singing or dancing to how many keepie-uppies can you do – something really, really cool and extraordinary. Have some fun, please.

“We would love someone to do something with a dog, so if you’ve got a particularly close relationship with one of your dogs or a particularly creative border collie, please get them involved.”

Details of the voting process to decide the winner have yet to be revealed, as has the prize on offer.

“There will be an almighty bonanza of a prize for the person that wins,” promises Lowden, also a former pupil of Channelkirk Primary School in Oxton, in his clip.

“We’ve not decided what that prize will be yet, but it might just be a candlelit dinner for one with me on Zoom. Why would you not want to enter for that, really?”

To enter or for further details, go to www.facebook.com/EarlstonHighSchool