A STOURBRIDGE martial arts instructor, once named Britain’s third hardest man, has landed a role in a top TV drama.

Rob Lock, who runs his own martial arts academy on the Cridden Estate, Dudley Road, Lye, has trained for years with the founders of the now world famous Keysi Fighting Method - Justo Dieguez and Andy Norman, who have packed a punch in the film industry choreographing fight scenes in the Batman franchise and other major movies.

He’s also coached top stuntwomen Jo McLaren, Kim McGarrity and Lee-Anne Telford over the years.

But now Rob, who was a contestant on Sky One reality show Britain’s Hardest a few years ago, has finally got a piece of the action himself and has landed a role in adrenaline-fuelled BBC spy drama Hunted starring Australian actress Melissa George and created by Frank Spotnitz (The X-Files).

The 52-year-old, who has been teaching martial arts in the area for over 30 years, plays a villainous tough guy in the show which is being screened on Thursdays at 9pm.

He has also been assisting behind the scenes - choreographing some of the fight scenes in the London-set series as well as putting the leading lady, who plays elite intelligence firm operative Sam Hunter, through her paces in rehearsals.

Rob, who lives in Stourton, said: “She was phenomenal. She’d done no fighting before but she was very good to work with; she learned Keysi with myself and she got very active in the fights.”

He said the series, which began on October 4, has been receiving “great feedback”, adding: “It’s going to be massive in the US and Australia and it’s looking favourably for a second series.

“People love the fights - they’re very brutal - and they’ve really done a good job with the camera work.”

Rob, who is expected to be seen on screens tonight or in next week’s episode, said he’s “really enjoyed” his first stint as a TV stuntman and he’s hoping his debut success will kick-start a sideline career in the industry.

For more details about Rob’s classes check out www.roblocksacademy.com/