A SELKIRK starlet has taken centre stage in a children's TV show.

Nine-year-old Mimi Robertson landed a lead role in CBeebies series Molly and Mack last year.

Filmed last summer, the first series of the programme hit screens in the autumn and proved to be so popular with its audience it has now been recommissioned for a second series.

The programme tells the story of eight-year-old Molly and her 18-year-old brother Mack.

During the summer holidays, Molly is being looked after by a reluctant Mack who runs a toy and record stall in an indoor market called the Big Hub.

The series follows Molly’s fun adventures with Mack, her friends and the community who work there.

Dad Mark Robertson said: "Mimi got the role by chance really. A friend flagged up that they were looking for someone to do some voiceover work for a TV programme.

"She went for that and spent a day doing some voiceover work. The woman who was in charge of that asked her to go to the open audition for Molly and Mack.

"That was in December 2017 and we found out after that she got the part of Molly."

Filming for the first series predominantly took place in Glasgow. Mimi said: "It was hard work, doing really long days, but I really enjoyed it and I learned a lot. I had lots of lines to learn and had a tutor on the days when I was meant to be at school.

"I also loved the Big Hub where the show was set up because it is a very special place with all the cool little market stalls to have adventures in.

"I enjoyed doing the filming in North Queensferry for the titles, although it was a bit chilly so it was hard to pretend not to be cold!

"I was a very comfortable playing Molly because she is quite similar to me. She is very energetic, always has ideas, loves adventures, and whenever there’s a problem she always wants to fix it.

Dad Mark added: "I was more overwhelmed that she was - she took it all in her stride. She had a ball - she loved it.

"Aside from the children it was a real veteran cast and crew who had been doing tv and theatre for years. Mimi would come home and tell me what she'd learnt that day."

Mimi added: "It was cool to have my questions being answered on how they make TV shows - I always got to see how the cameras worked, how actors spend their morning before they go on set and how they did all their hair and makeup."

With the family based in the Borders and the filming taking place in Glasgow, the logistics of Mimi working in Glasgow proved to be a family affair. Mark said:"The whole family mucked in to make it happen. We are not a stage or theatre family so it was all new to us.

"We're really proud of her and what she's done, it's been a lot of fun."

And it's not just Mimi's family who have been supporting her in her new role as a television star.

Mimi is a pupil at Knowepark Primary School in Selkirk and her classmates helped celebrate her success with a special screening of Molly and Mack.

Mimi said: "My friends didn’t believe me at first because no one had ever done something like this, but once we started watching episodes in class they believe me and are super supportive about it."

The second series of Molly and Mack will begin production later this year.

Mimi said: "I was very, very excited and glad that there is another series coming because I will get to see all the cast and crew members again, like the producer and director and all the chaperones."

'Molly and Mack' is currently on CBeebies every weekday at 12.25pm and 5.35pm.