An Olympic hopeful has reached stardom of a different kind after landing a body-double part in a BBC drama.

Last Thursday millions saw former Parkside School pupil Jenny Cowen perform dazzling pirouettes into water on BBC2’s two-part drama Dive.

The 19-year-old carried out the technical moves for actress Aisling Loftus, who played Lindsey — a 2012 Olympic hopeful who falls in love with fellow school pupil Robert (Skins’ Jack O’Connell) after her parents’ marriage breaks up.

The plot, written by BAFTA award winner Dominic Savage and his co-writer Simon Stephens, investigates the young couple’s tough decisions about their dreams and growing up when Lindsey realises she is pregnant.

Jenny, from Cross Roads, who won silver and bronze at last year’s Youth Olympics, in Australia, is hopeful of competing for the UK when London hosts the 2012 games.

She said: “I was at a diving competition when an agent approached me and asked if I would like to go to an audition for this part in London last year.

“I went along, there were a few of us and we just had to stand next to Aisling in swimming costumes so they could compare which figure, skin tone and height most matched hers.

“I was picked and began filming in Crystal Palace and Eastbourne last year.

“I have quite blond hair naturally and I had to dye it brown like Lindsey’s for about two months.

“I was filming for about four days and did take after take after take because they wanted to make sure they didn’t have my face in the shot.

“It was really good fun, I really enjoyed it, it was a great experience and would love to do it again. I’ve just signed up to another agency, Colouring Book and will see what happens.”

Meanwhile, Jenny, who has been diving for 11 years and who is a sport performance student at Leeds Metropolitan University, says she’s going to focus on attending more diving competitions in the run up the 2012 Olympic games.