MOST teenagers celebrate their 18th birthdays with a big night out or party, but for Billericay comic Charlie Wernham it was a VIP night to remember.
Fellow comedian and Bad Education co-star Jack Whitehall joined Charlie, who shot to fame on Britain’s Got Talent aged 13, his parents and friends at his home before they were all whisked away to Brentwood’s famous nightspot, the Sugar Hut, in a stretch limo.
When they arrived they were given five-star treatment and spent the night having photos taken with fans and chatting to the club’s owner and The Only Way is Essex star Mick Norcross.
Charlie said: “It was quite surreal really, I’d seen Jack on TV when I started off doing comedy and then he was in my house.
“We’d talked about my birthday when we were filming Bad Education, but then it didn’t come up again until the week before, Jack said he was going to come but I didn’t chase him so when he arrived it was great.
“Only three of us knew about the limo so it was a nice surprise for everyone when it pulled up outside - looking back on it it was really good.”
After turning 18 on October 3, Charlie says nights out have hit his wallet hard, but he’s also enjoying being able to hit the town.
The cheeky chappy won the hearts of the nation when he appeared on Britain’s Got Talent, and since then his career has really taken off.
On Wednesday, October 24, he had a second audition for a part in Hollyoaks and next year he will be filming a second series of Bad Education as so called "wideboy" Mitchell after it received rave reviews from critics and fans alike.
He has also been writing his own material and hopes to do more stand-up comedy gigs in London and Essex now he’s 18 and can focus on his career after making the tough decision to give up his place at Billericay School’s sixth form college.
“I would’ve done both if I could, but filming clashed with my exams,” he added.
“As soon as I got the part in Bad Education I tried to make it work with my exams, but there was only one thing I wanted to do and that was the filming, it would’ve been silly to give it up.
“If I did choose my exams and then I’d missed out I would’ve been kicking myself.”
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