A LOCAL actor has revealed how he battled through excruciating pain to film scenes for one of the world’s biggest TV shows.

Derek Lord, who starred as the infamous Davie Sneddon in Scottish soap Take the High Road for 18 years, landed a role in the hotly anticipated new series of hit fantasy show Game of Thrones.

But the Skelmorlie man’s big moment nearly ended in disaster when he tripped over and snapped his wrist on the first day of filming in Belfast.

Speaking exclusively to the Tele, Derek, 67, said: “During my first day on set I tripped over a track in the floor which is used to move the cameras and hurt my wrist, but I didn’t tell anyone as I didn’t want to disrupt the filming.

“The show must go on as they say.” Ever the professional, Derek battled through his scenes despite unbearable pain in his wrist.

He added: “Throughout filming my wrist got bigger and sorer — after about three hours I couldn’t take the pain anymore and I went to see the first aid guy.

“He sent me to the hospital and doctors did an X-ray which showed that I had fractured my wrist in two places and broken one of my fingers. Thankfully I had managed to film all my dialogue.” Derek, who has been cast as a military officer in the show, says a fortune teller predicted he would get his big break later in life.

He said: “Years ago a fortune teller told me I would get my big break and two weeks later I got into High Road.

“But she also said that I would get my biggest break when I was much older and I think this could be it.” Derek, who is a self confessed fan of the show, says it was a dream come true when his agent contacted him with the script.

He said: “My agent sent me the script then David Newbigging, who lives in Inverkip, came to my house and filmed it. I sent it off and the casting crew loved it.” Northern Irishman Derek said it was great to be back in Belfast, where filming took place, and says he’s still in touch with his good friend and Hollywood film star Liam Neeson.

He said: “Liam lives in America but anytime he’s over in Scotland we meet up.” Game of Thrones is due to return to screens at some point next year.