Your chance to star alongside Steve Coogan in Laurel and Hardy film shooting in Dudley

The feature film focusing on the iconic twosome's final tour is to be partly shot in Dudley, with the hunt now on for extras of all ages.

Alan Partridge star Coogan will play Stan Laurel and American actor John C Reilly will appear as his long-time on-stage partner Oliver Hardy in Stan and Ollie, which is being made by the BBC.

Details of the filming in Dudley are being kept under wraps, but it is possible the decision to come to the town could be linked to its famous Hippodrome theatre where the duo appeared in 1947 and again in 1952 – staying across the road at the Station Hotel.

The story has been written by Jeff Pope, who worked with Coogan on Oscar-nominated Philomena, and chronicles the duo's final tour in 1953, during which Hardy suffered a heart attack.

Laurel and Hardy burst onto the scene in the 1920s, appearing in more than 100 films together. By the time of their final tour, they had been performing for more than 30 years. Filming will also take place in Birmingham, where the duo appeared in the year of their final tour, and Bristol.

An advert posted on castingcoillective.co.uk said: "Men and women of all ages for filming in Birmingham and Dudley for a major feature film about Laurel and Hardy set in the 1950s. You must be over 16, legally allowed to work in the UK with National Insurance number. Good rates of pay."

The comedy duo appeared in the pages of the Express & Star following their appearance at Dudley Hippodrome in 1947, in which they were said to have 'rocked the packed house'.

They were also patrons of the Birmingham pub The Bartons Arms, and would rest at the pub in between shows at the now demolished Aston Hippodrome. Laurel and Hardy were on a long list of stellar names of the mid-20th century to appear at Dudley Hippodrome.

Work is finally about to start on bringing the Castle Hill landmark back into public use following a hard-fought campaign.

Apply for a role at castingcollective.co.uk