A WINCHESTER actor, reclaiming his Down syndrome as a superpower, is taking on Hollywood in a new BBC documentary.

Tommy Jessop and his older brother Will have co-created a programme showing what life with Down syndrome is really like as Tommy strives to write himself the leading role of his dreams.

Hampshire Chronicle: Tommy and Will filming in HollywoodTommy and Will filming in Hollywood (Image: Jane Jessop)

Despite starring in hit shows like Line of Duty, Tommy still finds that actors like him are underrepresented and don’t often get to play the hero.

To change the norm, the Jessop brothers, with their mum Jane on the side lines as caterer, make-up artist and all-round ‘momager’, have documented their journey pitching a new film with Tommy at the forefront as superhero Roger Mitchell, named after his teddy bear.

Hampshire Chronicle: Tommy and Will JessopTommy and Will Jessop (Image: BBC Studios, Will Jessop)

READ MORE: Winchester's Tommy Jessop releases memoir on life with Down Syndrome

The humorous yet hard-hitting programme, Tommy Goes to Hollywood, features stars such as Kit Harrington, from Game of Thrones, who reads the script of the villain – questioning screening and bringing real insecurities of living with Down syndrome to light.

In previous roles, Jessop has been electrocuted, thrown off a mountain, arrested and drowned in a lake so he was pleased to be instead defeating the baddies as he trialled out his powers with Jackie Chan’s stunt team.

Hampshire Chronicle: Tommy and his stunt teamTommy and his stunt team (Image: BBC Studios, Will Jessop)

At an exclusive screening of the documentary earlier this month, Tommy and his film producer brother Will spoke on their ambitions in a Q&A led by BBC reporter Nikki Fox.

Tommy, 38, said: “I’ve watched countless superhero films in the past. It’s about time that I should play a superhero with Down syndrome who’s making a change to the world.

“The first person I saw on TV with Down syndrome was myself.

“I want to open people’s minds to what life will really be like for people living with Down syndrome. Hopefully, the main superpower really is an extra chromosome.”

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Hampshire Chronicle: Tommy using his powersTommy using his powers (Image: Jane Jessop)

Will said: “Everyone should have a superhero that looks like them.

“This project is very special to me. Tommy had his own camera and I was kind of following him. The film has that tone where it’s funny and joyous but also serious in parts which is what Tommy is like.

“We’re writing Roger the Superhero now and we’ve got some people who are excited to receive our draft. There could potentially be a documentary about the next phase which will be casting.”

Having lived in Winchester for the past 32 years, the actor said that the city might be featured in the film.

When asked how the writing is going, Tommy admitted: “We’re making it up as we go along.”

Tommy Goes to Hollywood will air on BBC One and iPlayer at 9pm on Monday, August 21.