DRUGS, sex and suicide are all the subject of E4 teenage drama, Skins, and one Oxfordshire pupil is about to join the series.

Sebastian de Souza, a 17-year-old pupil at St Edward’s School in Oxford, has been cast as new character Matthew.

The show is set in Bristol and follows the lives of a group of teenagers through sixth form.

Every two years they replace their main cast, and later this month, viewers will be introduced to the new intake of young rebels.

Mr de Souza said: “I think it is an interesting format for a show. It refreshes the whole thing.

“It was quite intimidating knowing who had come before you, but I guess that’s rather like going into a real sixth form.”

The first episode of Skins averaged 1.5 million viewers and attracted attention in the media for its racy portrayal of parties, sex and drug usage.

But despite the cult following, Mr de Souza admitted he had not been a fan of the show before joining the cast.

He said: “I am more of a Poirot and Miss Marple on a Sunday kind of person.

“But I had heard about it and all my friends watched it.

“I went out and bought the box set, so I am going to sit and watch them all back to back.”

At his initial audition, Mr de Souza was not sure he had got the job. He said: “I got into London for the final call and realised I’d forgotten both my Oyster card and my debit card.

“So I had to run through London for half an hour in the pouring rain and was late for the audition.

“But I got the job, so maybe they liked the rainy and dishevelled look.”

Filming took place in Bristol over six months last summer, but now Mr de Souza is back in school.

He said: “I am taking my A-Levels and had to miss a month or two of school, which I am still paying for now.

“But it was totally worth it, I have loved every second and I am really going to really concentrate on my exams for the next four months.”

Mr de Souza, from Boxford near Newbury, will be watching the first episode when it goes out on January 27 in his room at school, but said he would not want any company.

He said: “I think I’ll definitely want to watch it alone, as I have not seen any of the finished stuff yet.

“But everyone at school has been really supportive and they said they would be watching.

“I am hoping the teachers won’t though, it is quite racy.”

On Saturday, January 29, cast members including Mr de Souza will be at the O2 Academy on Cowley Road as part of the Skins tour.

There will also be performances from The Wombats, Trophy Wife and The Good Natured. Tickets are free and available from e4.com/skins