SWINDON drama coach John Williams is appearing in Anatomy of A Crime, a TV series based on factual court cases.

John 59, of Highworth, plays the part of the defence lawyer, Mr Parrish. He beat off three other actors for the part.

"It was something I thought I could do easily but it proved challenging and enjoyable,'' said the actor, whose stage name is John Theed.

It took two days filming at Newport Crown Court to capture the first programme in the series.

"Performing to a camera is so different to working a large audience,'' said John. "It requires minimum effort but intense concentration. You have to tone it down from stage acting to TV acting.''

The story is based around the defence lawyer trying to get a prisoner out of jail so he can be treated by a psychiatrist and save tax payers' money.

John found that as it was a court case, based on fact, he had to stick absolutely to the script.

"It was to be delivered word for word,'' said the actor. "As you can imagine there were a few takes over the two days."

Anatomy of a Crime will be broadcast on the BBC1 on Thursday at 9pm.

This screening follows closely on John's successful appearance in newsreader Trevor MacDonald's Tonight programme.

The TV series was based on a reconstruction of the September 11 tragedy. It was broadcast last week.

In that programme John played one of the passengers on the doomed Pennsylvania flight.

He had his throat cut by the hijackers in the first scene.

"It was frightening even though I knew it was a simulation,'' said John, who teaches drama at Churchfields School, Swindon College and Hreod Parkway school as well as coaching."

The actor is also in the middle of organising a Lechlade pantomime entitled OK Corale which will be performed in November.