Rory Girvan plays Sunil in Stella. It's his first major TV role, and here he talks about what it was like to get recognised in public for the first time...

Before Stella first came out, some of my mates seemed to think it was going to be like an episode of Entourage, where the lead character Vinnie Chase (a Hollywood A-Lister) swaggers through LA with his posse from inner city New York followed by a trail of beautiful ladies... It's fair to say my friends were a little disappointed when they came out for a few bevs in Leeds with me.

Now, Leeds is a nice place - probably better than Hollywood - and has lovely ladies. I, however, am no Vinnie Chase. For a start, in the first series of Stella I was playing a school kid, which is already quite limiting in terms of sex appeal. And secondly, we went to the usual pubs where we knew most people, then a series of bars all of which we couldn't get in because we were 'a group of lads' (a problem Entourage failed to warn us about). We inevitably ended up in the horror / saviour of most nights out in Leeds, Dixy Chicken, and then all got taxis home. They enjoyed the spicy wings though, so that was good.

However, a week later I did actually get recognised for the very first time! I was in a dive of a pub outside a football ground - one I had frequented many times before - having a pre-match drink or three. Someone tapped me on the shoulder and asked, in the most enthusiastic manner, "Are you Rory Girvan?" Stunned, I turned to my mate who, whilst propping up a Guinness, had a huge grin covering the width of his face; 'ahhh of course' I thought - I'd been set up.

Not wanting to lose face I turned back to the guy and in the most uninterested, blasé way possible said "yeees" with a hugely exasperated sigh. "My son loves the show, can I get a picture of you with him?" Wait. A. Minute. It wasn't a set up! He really did have a son, there stood right behind him with an iPhone ready for the photo!

Obviously I obliged - but not for the sake of the kid. Oh no, it was all me, me, me, being far more excited about this than him. Photo taken, buzzing, I headed to the toilet - the excitement was all getting too much.

Inevitably just before a football game there is a bit of a queue - no problem though, I can wait, after all I HAVE JUST BEEN RECOGNISED! Until, that is, I noticed some huge, rather lairy bloke coming up to me, his face soon barely an inch away from mine giving me the privilege of not only smelling his drink of choice but his dinners for the last week too.

This was it - the day many a football fan fears, when one of their own, in a drunken stupor, whacks them. He sized me up, cleared his throat and in a rather smoke sodden accent exclaimed, "eere you're that Sunny lad from Stella ent ya?" I nodded eagerly, my head reacting purely on instinct whilst the rest of my body went into complete fear lockdown. He was still breathing heavily and his eyes didn't flinch. Mine wouldn't stop. "Nice one mate - it's class".

With that he turned back into the queue and got on with... well, queuing. After a second I caught my breath, suddenly didn't need the toilet so badly and made the swiftest exit out of that pub as you'll ever see.

I'm not sure any of the above will tempt you to watch the show, but it does equip you with the knowledge that if nothing else, its success has brought me a heightened fear of public confrontation!

Thank you to Rory for those words. Series 2 of Stella is on Sky1 on Friday nights at 9pm. The new series sees Sunil enrol at a brainy medical school (pictured).

If you see Rory in Leeds say hello and try not to be scary or, failing that, follow him on Twitter: @rory_girvan