One of fastest rising child stars, Tilly Kaye, stars in ITV’s gritty new drama

Thirteen-year-old actor Tilly Kaye takes on her most challenging role to date with a starring role in the major new ITV drama, Protection.

Tilly, who is from Leeds, stars alongside Siobhan Finneran (Happy Valley), Katherine Kelly (The Long Shadow) and Barry Ward (Bad Sisters) in the gritty crime drama.

Protection follows a witness protection officer who finds herself at the heart of a dangerous breach and vows to uncover the source of corruption within her unit.

One of the fastest rising child actors in the UK, Tilly’s breakthrough came when she landed the title role of Biff in CBeebies Biff & Chip, based on the beloved children’s books.

Tilly’s recent work includes playing Calamity in the Sally Wainwright hit-series Last Tango in Halifax for the BBC. She also played Amy Sowden in Wainwright’s Gentleman Jack for HBO/BBC and has had roles in The Feed (Amazon). Her commercial credits include McDonald’s, Iceland, and Leapfrog.

Tilly said: “Working on protection was such an incredible experience. Acting amongst such a talented cast and crew and shooting emotional scenes was challenging but a great learning process. I made some great memories.”

The young star is one of many children and young people represented by Articulate Agency being cast in high profile roles. The acting agency, which has its headquarters in West Yorkshire, has built an enviable reputation for casting young talent.

Stacey Burrows, founder of Articulate Agency, said: “Tilly is phenomenal and incredibly prolific at such a young age, but this role is truly groundbreaking for her. The gripping, high-stakes thriller pushes Tilly’s acting skills to new heights in a role that takes audiences on an emotional rollercoaster. Protection showcases a whole new side of Tilly, proving she has the range and talent to take on complex, emotionally demanding performances.”

Protection also features a new talent from Articulate Agency, 16-year-old Reuven Walker from Bradford. He plays the role of Arlo; Reuven has also subsequently worked on Sky’s Brassic.

Reuven said: “I found out I got the role in the best way possible, my agent came over to my house and surprised me with the news. It was a surreal moment, especially since it was my first ever role. Being part of Protection as my first acting job was an incredible experience. It was a huge opportunity to break into the industry, and I learned so much from it. It definitely set a high bar for what I want to continue doing in my career. I really enjoyed working with fellow Articulate, Tilly. She’s a very talented actress and has a natural confidence that makes her stand out.”

Reuven’s agent Lucy Millington, a Child Casting Agent at Articulate Agency, said: “I am incredibly proud of Reuven's involvement in such a brilliant new project. He works so hard at his craft and displays exceptional potential - I am so excited to see what else this year may bring him.”

Articulate Agency works with the top UK and US casting directors, producers and show runners to secure high-profile, career-making roles, including major Hollywood opportunities.

Its talent star across all major TV networks, including Netflix, Sky, ITV, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Disney+, HBO, and the BBC, as well as independent and major UK and US film studios, and are trusted by Disney, Universal, and Fox.