Acting up on set

Let's get this out of the way then... yes Tom Rosenthal is the son of broadcasting legend Jim, but as he proved on Soccer AM he's also a very funny man!

The 23-year-old burst onto the comedy circuit in 2007 where he quickly established himself, winning accolades such as Paramount's Funniest Student award.

A philosophy graduate, his ability to tickle his audience's funny bone caught the eye of TV executives and it wasn't long before he landed his first acting role.

Starring alongside Soccer AM favourites Tamsin Greig and Simon Bird of The Inbetweeners, the Arsenal fan can be seen in Channel 4's Friday Night Dinners.

The sitcom was officially the highest rated comedy debut on the channel, and he admitted his first day on set was a daunting experience.

"It was very scary," he told Soccer AM.

"They're all like established people and I was a total nobody doing stand-up to weirdos in pubs, so I was just very, very lucky to be involved with it.

"Obviously I've played absolutely no part in getting people to watch it as I'm a complete nobody, as everybody on Twitter was keen to tell me!

"I know I'm not famous, don't have a got at me Twitter, it's not my fault! I'm doing my best. I've got a famous dad give me some credit!"

Pranks

Having overcome his initial nerves, Rosenthal says he has become the on set prankster.

Mimicking his character Jonny's mischievous ways he says he took great delight in getting one over on co-star Bird.

He said: "He used to have apple juice and he used to have it specially warmed by the runners, so I tell people that. What a disgrace!"

"But I put salt in it and he did one of his faces that he does in Inbetweeners and it was great. I'm a hilarious prankster on set guys!"

So was he worried Bird would get him back?

"No, he's very boring and he doesn't like me much actually, we don't really talk," he joked.