Hollywood actor and star of the smash US drama The Wire, Idris Elba, was in Croydon for the first day of his debut into the world of directing.

Elba was with film company Sprouts Productions, run by Gina Carter and Stephen Fry, in St George’s Walk on Tuesday filming Pavement Psychologist, a drama starring Anna Friel.

The half-hour drama, written and directed by Elba, centres on the increasingly complex relationship between a young woman and a homeless man.

It will be shot in locations across Croydon and Clapham and aired on Sky Playhouse in the spring.

Ms Carter, who was on set as producer, said: “We picked out Croydon because of its period architecture.

“Alongside St George’s Walk we will be using a number of indoor locations in Croydon for the shoot.”

Friel, who has a huge CV of film and TV appearances, is cast alongside Stephen Mackintosh, (Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels) and Nonso Anozie (Game of Thrones).