A FORMER Maldon schoolboy has been starring in a hit new BBC thriller. 

Boat Story, a new BBC One show began airing on November 19, starring Daisy Haggard, Paterson Joseph, Craig Fairbrass and Phil Daniels among others.

Written by Jack Williams and Harry Williams, the series follows two strangers played by Haggard and Joseph, who make a shocking discovery on a boat and later find themselves entangled with both police and criminals.

Ethan Lawrence, who plays the character 'Ben', a police officer in the show's setting of Applebury, went to Plume School. 

Boat Story is not the first television role Ethan, 31, has had in his career.

He has starred as pupil 'Joe Poulter' in the BBC sitcom Bad Education opposite Jack Whitehall and later appeared in the 2015 movie based on the show.

While Joe was viewed as the butt of the joke by classmates, he was an ally to teacher Alfie Wickers, played by Whitehall and later grew in confidence. 

Ethan has also played 'James' in Ricky Gervais' hit comedy drama After Life on Netflix, as well as appearing as an ensemble cast member in sketch comedy Horrible Histories.

He featured in an episode of Doc Martin in 2017.