Pupils from Exmouth Community College have helped produce and star in a new short film featuring Fast Show comedian Charlie Higson.

Charlie, who is also known for his series of Young Bond novels, visited the college last month to talk to pupils about his career as an author, but while he was there took the time to star in Appearance.

The film, released last week, sees Charlie’s visit to the college take a spooky turn of events.

It was produced by Meat Bingo, a community film project set up by college film studies teacher John Panton and screenwriter David Quantick, a former college pupil who has previously written for hit shows including Harry Hill’s TV Burp, The Day Today, and Brass Eye.

It features current pupils Cormac and Ellen O’Mahony, and teacher Penny Frogatt, starring alongside Charlie, and a special appearance from Exmouth illustrator Moose Allain.

There is also camerawork from year 11 pupil Dale Pendlebury, working under professional director of photography Carl Shanahan.

Mr Panton said: “Charlie very kindly gave some time at the end of his day here, probably feeling quite exhausted.

“We managed to script and storyboard and get everything in place, and had a frantic couple of hours of filming, but he was lovely, a true gent.”

The film has been made available for free on the internet to promote Meat Bingo, which is currently trying to get Falcon of Fury, a film it made last year also partly at the college, on to the festival circuit.

Mr Panton said: “We’re just using Meat Bingo as a way to make short films, involving local people and Exmouth Community College.

“It gives people experience they wouldn’t normally have, and gives students the chance to make films seen by a lot of people.

“My students like that they can use the experience on their CV, and hopefully it’s a good situation for everybody involved.”

Appearance and other films by Meat Bingo can be seen at http://vimeo.com/meatbingo.