A STUDENT from York will appear on thousands of television screens this year, when he features on a comedy maths-based show.

Tim Charlton is a maths undergraduate at the University of York, and appears in seven of the eight episodes of Dara O Briain: School Of Hard Sums.

The show, which is made for and broadcast on the digital channel Dave, takes mathematical equations and concepts and explains them in a light-hearted way with well-known stand-up comedians.

Tim, 19, was invited to take part in the show after he responded to an advertisement last year for "maths-hungry undergraduates" to solve problems on screen. Following a number of auditions, he was asked to take part in the show, and was the only first year student selected to take part.

He said: “Being on the show was a great experience and the guest comedians were the best the programme has ever had. Dara was phenomenally friendly and was always chatting to the students."

Stand-up comedian Dara O Briain, known to many as the host of the BBC show Mock The Week, studied Maths and Theoretical Physics at University College, Dublin, and has looked at the subject in his stage shows.

The show also features Professor Marcus du Sautoy of Oxford University, but Tim, who is from Heckmondwike near Leeds, said his favourite part of the experience allowed him to meet several of his favourite comedians while taking on real-world brainteasers.

He said: “It was great to get pictures with, and talk to, some of my favourite comedians like Lee Mack, Josh Widdicombe and Kevin Bridges, all of whom made time to chat to the students. The highlight was going to the pub with Dara O Briain after the last show and having a great chat with 8 Out of 10 Cats comedian Jon Richardson and Stephen K Amos.”

*Dara O Briain: School Of Hard Sums is broadcast Tuesdays at 10pm on Dave until April 22. For more information, and to watch episodes online, go to
http://dave.uktv.co.uk/shows/dara-o-briain-school-hard-sums/