CBBC child star unrecognisable as he returns to screens after 13 years

A CBBC child star looked unrecognisable as he made his return to screens 13 years on from his TV debut. 

Percelle Ascott, 31, who kicked off his career as Benny Sherwood in Wizards Vs Aliens, most recently starred in BBC series Domino Day. 

He also featured in Doctor Who, Netflix hit I Came By and will next appear in I, Jack Wright. 

Percelle now looks worlds away from the scientifically gifted teen he played in the beloved Sci-Fi series. 

Wizards Vs Aliens, which ran from 2012 until 2014, was commission by CBBC to fill the space left behind by Doctor Who spin-off The Sarah Jane Adventures. 

The show followed 16-year-old wizard Tom Clarke, played by Scott Haran, as he defended earth from aliens. 

It was put on hiatus after two years due to budget restrictions in 2015 and never made a return. 

On one side in the BBC drama series Wizards Vs Aliens there were schoolboys Tom and Benny.

On the other were The Nekross from the planet Nekron, a merciless bunch of space travellers intent on sucking every last scrap of energy-giving magic from planet Earth. 

Co-creator and Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies explained at the time: 'Tom is a wizard, determined to hang on to his powers in the face of aliens who need Earth's magic to survive.

'And Benny, his best friend, is a science genius who is more than a match for The Nekross. This particular set of aliens has a fight on its hands if it's ever going to deprive Earth of its magic.'

Russell brought Doctor Who back to our screens in 2005 after a 16-year absence, and described Wizards Vs Aliens as one of the most ambitious dramas ever made for children's TV at the time. 

'It's got across-the-board appeal with high production values, brilliantly designed aliens, superb special effects, great acting and a fantastic team of technicians working on the show in Cardiff – the "fantasy factory" that's already produced BBC series such as Doctor Who, Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures,' he said. 

'And there are potentially so many stories to be told involving clashes between magicians and aliens.'

After the series ended Percelle went on to forge a successful career, starring in supernatural thriller Domino Day last year. 

Speaking in an interview with Vingt Sept Magazine ahead of its release he said: 'I’m finding myself doing these amazing projects, but also I think I've had some great experience of doing sci-fi, from Doctor Who and stuff and then working with the team on Domino. 

'I play a character called Leon, and the show is about Domino, of course, we follow her in this world and see how she navigates it, but the twist is that she’s a witch. 

'Domino is trying to deal with all kinds of badness that comes along with being a witch, whilst also trying to be an ordinary girl. So yeah, I'm looking forward to when it comes out.' 

He welcomed a daughter, Zuri, with his partner last year.