Aspiring teenage stuntman partners with Sudbury gym Zest Health and Fitness to help bring dream closer to reality

In any film or televisionshow, the actors and actresses take the spotlight.

Yet their actions on screen owe so much to a less well-known profession behind the scenes.

Whether an epic fight, a thrilling chase or an extraordinary acrobatic feat, the entertainment industry owes it to the stunt performers who bring this action to life.

For teenager Callum Doherty, the career choice was a no-brainer – and he has now partnered with a Sudbury gym to help realise his dream.

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” he said. “I can’t remember wanting to do anything else.”

Aged 19, Callum is already on the path towards becoming a professional stuntman, training for qualifications in various athletic and technical disciplines.

Within the next couple of years he hopes to achieve the necessary criteria to join the British Stunt Register, the UK’s premier organisation for stunt professionals.

To help achieve this goal, the former Gosfield School student is receiving support from Zest Health and Fitness, in Sudbury.

The gym – located in Milner Road, on Chilton Industrial Estate – has provided the teenager with free use of its facilities, enabling him to train for the physical demands of the job.

“Being able to use the gym has been massively beneficial towards my training, because I’ve got to be really fit and strong,” said Callum, of Catley Cross House, near Pebmarsh.

“Zest Gym is such a nice place to be. I can spend hours there and it’s open 24 hours as well, so I can go and stay late. It makes training a lot easier. It’s a nice environment and they’ve got everything I need.”

Alongside his gym work, Callum has also been training in horse riding, swimming, kickboxing and trampolining.

He plans to take on courses such as advanced driving in the future, as he works towards the required British Stunt Register qualifications.

Although younger than the average age for people working in the field, Callum has already had his first taste of stunt work on a couple of still-to-be-announced projects.

And, while the nature of the profession carries with it the inevitable risk of injury, he said he feels confident in his ability and excited for the challenges that come his way.

“I’m finding out that I’m very much on the younger side, as far as getting on to the British Stunt Register, but I’m aiming to be there in a couple more years,” added Callum.

“I want to be working all over the world and I’m keen to get working as quickly as possible.

“It’s such a good feeling. When I’m working, it feels like I’m almost in a zone. I feel really aware of myself and there’s a really great sense of accomplishment afterwards.

“I like the challenge of it all. I just have confidence in myself.

“Obviously, I’m aware I could get hurt, but I don’t mind taking a bash. I’m getting used to taking a hit from my training and you can train in certain ways to reduce the risk.”