BABY Jacob Hughes has taken his first steps on the road to a lifetime of stardom -- providing he doesn't get cold feet.

Mum Michelle Hughes's bundle of joy had his star quality spotted when she took him to an audition for ITV soap Emmerdale last July.

Jacob, now 13 months old, has been starring alongside James Nesbitt and Helen Baxendale in the station's hit comedy Cold Feet -- and stole the show when the series' last ever episode was screened on Sunday night.

The show's casting director saw the tot's tape and decided he was perfect to play Matthew, the baby son of Rachel, who died in a car crash in last week's episode, and Adam.

And despite being a star Jacob has not seen himself on television yet as he has always been in bed. But Michelle and Jacob's dad Martin, 33, who live in Shaw Brow, Whittle-le-Woods, have taped the series for him.

The money earned by his acting debut is also waiting for him in his own bank account for when he is old enough to spend it.

Now the tot's life in acting has been put temporarily on hold now Michelle, 29, has returned to work at Warrington Social Services.

Michelle had mixed views when friends and family first suggested Jacob went to a modelling agency.

She said: "I didn't know if I agreed with it, but decided there was no harm in looking into it."

Michelle and Martin discovered Tuesday's Child agency in Macclesfield was looking for brown-eyed brown-haired babies and although Jacob only had a little hair they put him forward.

He was invited to an audition for Emmerdale where they took a video, but the show needed a baby that could crawl.

Then out of the blue the casting director for Cold Feet called and said he had seen the video and was interested in using Jacob.

He was one of five babies used for the show and spent 13 days filming in Manchester last September.

Michelle said: "I've always watched the show and was really shocked when they called, but the whole family is proud. I don't know if we'd do it again because I'm back at work now, but it was a good experience.

"Jacob loves cameras and is all smiles as soon as he sees one. It has also given him quite a bit of confidence because he was mixing with new people.

"He didn't know anyone there but he never flinched and he took a real shine to Jimmy Nesbitt."

His grandmother Maureen Hughes, who lives in Fishwick Lane, Higher Wheelton, and works for Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "He was brilliant for a baby that young and gurgled in all the right places. It's up to his mummy and daddy whether he does anything else, but he's a natural."