Ever since actor Andy Nyman watched his first horror film at Leicester's old ABC cinema, he has longed to get his teeth into a scary role.

This week, the city-born star has been covered in blood and guts and fighting off zombies in a new show which has taken the country by storm.

Andy, 42, born and bred in Stoneygate, Leicester, has a lead role in E4's hit zombie show Dead Set, which finishes tonight after a five-day run.

He stars as Big Brother producer Patrick in the show, written by Charlie Brooker.

His character, along with production runner Kelly, played by Jaime Winstone, is left to fight off hordes of undead, including Big Brother presenter Davina McCall.

He's even made a behind-the-scenes documentary about the show – aptly titled A Dream Come True.

The father of two, who now lives in London, said: "I'm a big horror fan. I love it and always have done.

"When I read the script I knew immediately it was brilliant. I didn't want it to be too jokey – but it's not. It's really quite brutal. In fact, I couldn't believe how much so. It's totally shocking.

"I made the documentary called A Dream Come True, because it really is that for me.

"It was absolutely great fun to do. When you make the thing you're only a small component of it, you don't really know what sort of a success it's going to be. But the reaction to this has been extraordinary. I think it's because it doesn't really look like telly, it's more like a movie."

Andy grew up in Leicester and went to school at Overdale and Lancaster Boys, before taking A-level theatre at Melton Tech.

He headed to London at the age of 18 to attend Guildhall Drama School, but it was long before then that he knew what career he would follow.

He said: "I knew from about 10 I wanted to act. My family were brilliant with stuff like going to the theatre."

He said his first horror flick was The Fog at the now demolished ABC Cinema, which was in Belgrave Gate.

"Leicester was my home for 18 years. I have nothing but happy memories about the place," he said. "I still have friends and family and come back here a lot."

His acting work ranges from The Bill and League of Gentlemen to movies Dead Babies, Death at a Funeral and horror film Severance.

He's also a writer and director for psychological magician Derren Brown and this week started work on the pair's next series.

But Dead Set has been his biggest job in horror so far – and has been drawing in viewers to E4, with 1.6 million tuning in for Monday's first episode.

E4 controller Angela Jain said: "Dead Set yet again proves E4's ability to consistently commission programmes that are original, surprising and critically acclaimed."