ONE of the stars of a smash-hit American TV show has visited an East Lancashire school to help inspire the next generation of thespians.

David Morrissey, who plays Governor Phillip Blake in Walking Dead, gave a speech and took part in a question and answer session at Bowland High School as part of the Speakers for Schools initiative.

The project, established by the BBC’s economics editor Robert Peston, provides state secondary schools and colleges with talks from a range of industry leading professionals and academics, free of charge.

The network currently consists of 950 speakers who donate their time to go into state schools and speak about their background and area of expertise, to provide a stimulating session for students through an assembly talk.

Known for both his film and television roles, the Liverpudlian, who has also had roles in Doctor Who, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin and Sense and Sensibility, visited the Grindleton performing arts school on Thursday.

He gave a talk to performing arts and media students in years 10 and 11 and then fielded prepared questions during the two-hour session.

He said: “At my school we didn’t do performing arts and I really strongly believe that we really need to have that in education.”

The actor was also given a guided tour of the school’s new £3 million building which pupils should be using by next month.