Tain lass (4) secures TV debut during coronavirus lockdown on CBeebies Ferne and Rory's Teeny Tiny Creatures show
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A RISING star has found her first foothold to fame while showcasing the region thanks to the restrictions of the lockdown.
Four-year-old Harper MacRae from Tain appeared on a new BBC TV show asking questions about nature – all filmed by her family.
Harper was filmed as part of Cbeebies show Ferne and Rory's Teeny Tiny Creatures, after her teachers at Inverness-based drama school Performers UK suggested her name to the producers.
But, as mum Fiona MacRae (40) explains before the lockdown she would have had to travel to Glasgow for Harper to get her first TV appearance.
She said: "Harper is a wee star. She has been going along to Performance UK and loves it.
"When we were asked to film her out and about in the countryside we were delighted to do it. At first I thought I might need to travel to Glasgow or Edinburgh to get her onto the show.
"I would have honestly have travelled to the ends of the earth to give her this opportunity. It means so much to us."
She continued: "My daughter Akheera (16) is also keen on acting and performing and I have had to travel to get her to the city for projects she has been involved with.
"Harper was so funny, we had so much fun filming.
"It was all very simple, we went to the Pink House at Evanton and to Tain Hill."
Since appearing on television last week, Harper has been receiving lots of messages of support from her friends from Performance UK as well as children from her local school.
Ms MacRae said: "It has been so special to get so many messages of support. The clip of her on TV has been viewed thousands of times, and we are so delighted with all Harper has achieved so far."
Enrica Ross–Campbell of Performers UK, based in Inverness, said: "Last summer we received a phonecall from the BBC looking for a young person aged between four and seven years for a new show called Ferne and Rory's Teeny Tiny Creatures on Cbeebies.
"They asked us to send in five or six of our members. "The members then had to send in pictures and answer questions about themselves.
"It was such good news that out of the hundreds of young people from across the UK that were put forward, the youngest child we put forward got the job.
"Our hearts our bursting with pride. Harper is not only the cutest wee girl but is confident and so talented for her age.
"Every teacher adores her and we are so excited to see what the future holds for Miss Harper."
