Hannah Tointon is ready to step out of her big sister’s shadow after bagging a part in the cult comedy, the Inbetween- ers.

Hannah, 22, a former pupil at Westcliff’s St Hilda’s School and younger sister of ex-EastEnders star Kara, will feature in the new series of the E4 show set to start next week.

Proud dad Ken, 62, can’t wait to enjoy his daughter’s part in the comedy about the trials and pitfalls of sixth-form student life.

Hannah joins the cast for its third series as new character Tara who will play the love interest of Simon, one of the show’s four main characters.

Ken said: “The show is something everyone can relate to. It’s really funny.”

Hannah, who grew up in Bowers Gifford before her dad moved the family to Westcliff in 1998, has had a taste of the big time before.

Ken added: “She was in Hollyoaks for a year and also did a year in the West End. She has done children’s TV shows too.”

Her older sister Kara, 27, is about to appear in the new series of Strictly Come Dancing, starting on Saturday.

Because of her previous experience as the winner of the Sports Relief version of Strictly in March 2008, Kara will start her training a week later than her fellow competitors, but will still have to work hard to impress.

Ken said: “Kara did the Sports Relief but only did one dance and around five days of training for it, so this will be a much bigger challenge.

“She’s never done ballroom dancing before, although she had dance lessons as a child.”

With each contestant only given two audience tickets per show, competition in the Tointon household is already hotting up about who gets to go along first, and the family are hoping for support from their home county.

He said: “We would love it if everyone in Essex supported Kara. We have lots of friends in the area and both girls come back regularly.”

The new series of the Inbetweeners will start on Monday at 10pm. The first episode of Strictly Come Dancing airs Saturday on BBC1 at 6.25pm.