ARCHIE Farrow was not even supposed to have been born when he starred in TV hospital drama Casualty.

But the five-month-old baby, who lives in Crombey Street, Swindon, with parents Julie Molloy and Mark Farrow, will appear on our television screens next Saturday as nurse Roxy's premature baby.

In real life, Archie was born two months early on October 24 at the Great Western Hospital.

Apart from being only 3lb 9oz he was healthy and, after three weeks in the hospital's Special Care Baby Unit, was allowed home.

Archie was not due to be born until December 20 but he was involved in the shooting of Casualty before Christmas. He swapped life in the cot for life in front of the camera thanks to dad Mark, who is a TV actor.

Mark, 37, was due to be filming an episode of EastEnders when Julie went in to labour.

He explained the situation to the BBC producers and left the set immediately to join Julie at the hospital.

A few weeks later, when the couple were adjusting to life as parents, Mark received a call from Casualty bosses to ask if Archie would like to make an early start to his acting career.

Mark said: "We were delighted to let Archie take part.

"He was a natural in front of the camera and we hope he gets offered some more parts in the future."

Archie is too young to be paid for acting, but his parents were given £600 for their son's two-day filming stint.

He was required to be on set for two hours a day and filming went smoothly.

He even receives a credit at the end of the episode.

Fans of the programme have been eagerly waiting to discover what will happen when nurse Roxy finally gives birth.

Earlier in the series she agreed to be a surrogate mother but, throughout the pregnancy, she has been toying with the idea of keeping the baby herself.

All will be revealed in the episode when Archie makes his television debut.

Mark has been a full-time, professional actor for more than two years.

He has had parts in a variety of television dramas, such as Midsomer Murders, Judge John Deed, Teachers and the Inspector Lynley Mysteries.

And Archie's sister, 11-year-old Jenna Molloy, is no stranger to the silver screen.

She appeared in a film in 2002 about the Golden Jubilee where she played a young Princess Margaret.

Catch Archie in action in Casualty next Saturday on BBC1 at 8.50pm.