Strictly Come Dancing star Joe Sugg has secured his first professional on-screen acting role in BBC drama The Syndicate.

Sugg, whose career began on YouTube, will play struggling musician Sam in Kay Mellor’s show. He will be starring opposite Taj Atwal as his on-off girlfriend.

“Joe has always been passionate about making the leap from YouTube sensation to TV personality," an insider told The Sun.

"His Strictly success demonstrated that his popularity isn’t limited to online, and opened up a host of new opportunities for him, including the chance to act.

“He knows he has a lot to prove and is taking this latest career turn very seriously. Just like when he was written off as a mere YouTuber on Strictly, he is looking forward to showing everyone what he is capable of.”

Other stars to feature in the fourth series of the programme are former Coronation Street stars Kym Marsh and Katie McGlynn and Neil Morrissey.

This won’t be the first time Sugg has acted though as he had a short spell in West End musical Waitress last year where he played Ogie and was nominated for a What’s On Stage award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical.

He was a part of the 2018 Strictly series where he was partnered with now girlfriend Dianne Buswell. The pair finished second to Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton.

Sugg started making videos on YouTube with help from his sister and fellow YouTube star Zoe Sugg AKA Zoella. His main channel has 7.8m subscribers