YOUNG and old, including school children and experienced actors, turned up at the Metropole Hotel yesterday to audition for a part in the next series of The Young Offenders television show.

Children as young as five were waiting patiently in the Cockburn room of the hotel to be called forward to the adjoining room where two people, a man and a woman, were screening auditions.

The applicants were asked to chat for two minutes on video about themselves and why they want to be a part of the hit show.

Aaron Ganly, aged 14, and his mother Denise were the first people to arrive at the hotel. Originally from Dublin, they have been living in Kinsale for the past seven years. They got up at the crack of dawn to be the first. “We expected queues down the street!” Denise said.

Ms Ganly said that it was great to see that the auditions were open to all. “There is a great diversity of age groups here, that’s great to see.”

A number of the people that spoke to The Echo about the auditions said they were big fans of the show.

Katelynn Cremin, aged 15, from Mallow, said that she and her family sit down and watch the show every week when the series is running. “I love Billy Murphy. He is my favourite character. he is such an oddball, but the depth to his character is so interesting.”

Seventeen-year-old Caitlin Wilson-Miller from Dunmanway was also a big fan of the show and said Jock was her favourite.

“He is just a typical Irish lad. He reminds me of my own friends!”