The phrase "like father, like son" doesn't ring any truer than with
Chime's chief executive, Rupert Howell, and his six-year-old boy.
Little Dominic Howell has been chosen from thousands of young hopefuls
to star as Pat in the BBC television production of Tony Parson's novel
Man and Boy, alongside the actor Ioan Gruffudd. "He was plucked from
obscurity," Howell senior says, positively bristling with pride.
Dominic sailed through the various screen-tests until he was down to the
last few, and then - surprise, surprise - a competitive streak
emerged.
"So now I've got to beat the others, then?" Howell Junior asked his
father, displaying the kind of skills adland has come to admire of the
Howell name. Where could such a trait come from, we wonder? "I've got no
idea at all," Howell responds, proudly calling his son "a very focused
little chap".
Yes, clearly young Dominic is a chip off the old block. And word has it
that he's professional to the last, being word-perfect with all his
lines at a dazzling read-through. Not bad for a beginner.
So what does young Dominic say about his budding TV career when he gets
home? "He doesn't talk about it much," Howell responds. Oh well, the
comparisons have to stop somewhere.
