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We gave you the chance to put your questions to the Coming of Age cast, here the lovely Tony Bignall who plays Matt answers your Questions

Dylan Loxton: how did you end up getting your role in Coming Of Age?

Well a couple of years ago I did the pilot along with Joe Tracini who plays DK. Originally I auditioned for the part of DK actually but the casting director thought I'd be more suitable for Matt. So I did a reading and I had to do a couple more auditions and they gave me a part in the pilot. I've been acting since I was about twelve so for about eight years. I played Frank Skinner's son in a sitcom and just mainly comedy based stuff, like the odd random episode of My Family and stuff.

Daniel Millican: Who is the biggest joker off set?

It varies from day to day; I reckon Joe is very funny most of the time. Ceri (Phillips who plays Ollie) is a bit of a practical joker and I reckon I make people laugh a lot from doing silly things very similar to my character. I think everyone's pretty funny and we all have a laugh to be honest.

Peter James Davies: I've heard your music on MySpace, how does your band affect your filming and social life? And are you playing at any gigs, if so where and when?

Well I'm not in the band at the moment but I started off as a singer before acting. I still do a lot of pub singing, weddings and birthdays to make extra cash when I'm not doing acting work. It fits in pretty well because it's self employed, so I'd definitely like to continue singing alongside the acting as it saves me having to get a bar job or whatever!

Patrick Bulmer: How has it been different working on series 2 compared to series 1?

I think all the characters have got a lot better this year and there's a lot more structure involved in every episode. So every episode links together now rather than just random story lines and I think the production team have worked extra hard this year to help the show have a good image. I think we're all just a bit more relaxed this year as well, because last year we were all new to it and now we're all used to our characters. And we knew a lot of the people watching in the live audience were fans we were a bit more relaxed this time because we didn't have to make such a big impression.

Simon Loyns: the show is really awesome do you all have fun filming? And is Ollie really scared of needles?

Well I'm scared of needles; I'm not sure about Cerri (Phillips who plays Ollie)! We all have a lot of fun and when we're not filming we all go down the pub afterwards. So what you see on the screen is near enough what goes on when we're all together anyway. We all hang out when we can, some people are obviously busier than others but when we can we all meet up and have a few drinks.Ìý

(This interview first appeared on the .)

Anabel Barnston (who plays Chloe) answers your questions

Mark Johnson : What have been the cast's favourite scene to film and why?

I haven't spoken to everyone but I know that one of our favourites, well me, Tony (Bignell who plays Matt) and Joe (Tracini who plays DK) was in the last episode. There is a very special rap which me and Tony manage to get a part in as well and it has to be said I really, really enjoyed being part of the rap. And getting to say Balamory was the highlight of the episode!

Josie Mottram: What do your parents think of you being on the show and seeing you do the rude scenes? Do you get embarrassed when you're in rehearsals?

I do get embarrassed, especially because my mum watches the show quite a bit. She quite likes it actually and she knows it's me acting so she doesn't take it personally but I do tend to walk out of the room if we're watching it and a rude scene comes on. I go and make a cup of tea at that moment. But actually they are really supportive of it so thanks to them for that!ÌýÌý

BeeJay Guy: While filming the new series, did you prefer filming on location or in front of a live audience, and why?Ìý

I think the whole experience of a live audience is just so much fun, just having the immediate reaction and you know whether the jokes work or not. And sometimes the jokes are just a major cause of hilarity and it's always a great feeling when the whole audience is cracking up at something you've said. So I do prefer the live audience. Also on location it takes a whole day to film like four scenes, but we do a whole episode in like two and a half hours in front of a live audience. It's a much faster pace which is a bit nerve racking at first but it's quite exciting and exhilarating. You always come out feeling so good about yourself after you've finished the show.

Amber Kamugisha: How long have you been acting for and did you go to acting school or anything?Ìý

I didn't go to acting school but I started acting when I was about eleven because I joined my agency which I'm still with now. But I actually got into it through dancing, that's what I've grown up doing. It was one of my mum's friends who saw me doing a dance show and she suggested that I audition for my agency. And it literally went from there and I've done little bits and pieces like kids shows and things. This is my first step into the adult world of acting which is nice.ÌýÌý

Jack Cain: Do you all feel a connection to your characters or share a lot of traits in reality?

I think we all have an element of our characters within us. Obviously our characters are much more exaggerated but I definitely feel a connection towards Chloe in terms of her girly side. I'd say I'm quite a girly girl. And there is always a bit of everyone where we all just feel a bit like a kid, and we just want to have a whole load of cuddly toys on our bed and just watch like really silly old Disney movies that we just loved when we were kids. So I think I can really identify with that aspect of her. And also I would say the psycho side, not literally of course! But in the sense that every now and again something happens and you just want to hit someone over the head but you know you shouldn't. Chloe doesn't really have any inhibitions when it comes to that and will quite happily hit Matt who tends to get the brunt of her anger. Ha ha so yes I can identify with that occasionally.

(This interview first appeared on the

I asked Stacey ten questions which represent the main areas that lots of you wanted to know about. Many of you were asking how you could get involved so check out below for a number of ways that Stacey suggests.

Thanks for all your questions whether you sent them by Facebook, email or text.Ìý

Shabrina : After making this program-have you been in touch with all the people you came across, especially the kids you helped rescue? What are they up to?

STACEY: First of all a massive thank you for all the kind messages and questions.Ìý I do still speak to a lot of the people I met in Nepal. I have weekly contact with my interpreter Ira, we email and Facebook each other and she was letting me know how Munsuyad was doing when he was in Nepal. The organisation that we brought him to when we rescued him made contact with his family and now Munsuyad is back in India, where he's originally from, studying and so he's now getting a full-time education.

And I still hear how the girls are doing in Dang, because they've gone back there to a girl's hostel to study together. And Parang is still in a hostel, no-one has come for Parang but he is safe in a hostel with the other lads.

I think it's my responsibility to keep in contact with all the guys that I hung out with and I made a definite effort to make sure that I knew what was going on after my visit. I do understand that I was only there for a tiny, short space so I know everything's not hunky dory as soon as we leave.

Sofi: How is Parang doing, the one from Kathmandu?

STACEY: As I said he is still in the hostel, and the hostel is really amazing and I'm really glad that he's there. He's doing really well, he's bright and intelligent and he studies and then plays football with the boys. In my heart I don't think anyone is going to come for Parang, I don't think he's ever had a loving family or affection or anything like that so he's going to have to do his own thing when he grows up. When he's sixteen he'll have to go out and support himself. It's just the way it is which is difficult but at least he is getting an education and he was rescued when he was. But I always say if I make loads of money, you never know I could win the lottery, I'd definitely like to sort Parang out I think.

Jordan:Ìý I'm travelling to Nepal in two weeks time to do some volunteer work, I was just wondering if you had any advice on dealing with seeing children working like this and the poverty surrounding them and possibly not being able to do anything about it.

STACEY: Even if the situation is quite hard to witness I always thought that the tiniest, tiniest help that you can give is better than nothing. The smallest thing could make one kid slightly happier that day so that's a good thing. But yes of course it's extremely difficult and that's where I was a bit of a nightmare because I just used to cry quite often. Then I felt bad because I was like 'Why are you crying?' but it is difficult to witness, I think, especially because we don't see it in England do we? We're just not used to it.

Anon: What has been the hardest thing you've had to do?

STACEY: I think the hardest thing I've ever had to do was listen to Munsuyad... when he pulled on the interpreters T-shirt and just was so desperate for our help it was a real low point for me. Hearing how he used to get battered and beaten by the owner and he's been to hospital with head injuries. That wasn't a very nice day and I really struggled with that because I'd obviously never come across anything like that in my life. Then making the decision that was going to affect his life, you always have to be aware that it's other people's lives that you are making these decisions for. I think that was probably the toughest thing I've ever done but I'm glad we did what we did because he's not in that sweatshop anymore. The whole trip alone was worthwhile because there is one less kid in a sweatshop.ÌýÌý

Hannah & Harry: Were you scared the factory owners would hurt you when you took the children?

STACEY: Absolutely! It's so odd because I am just a sort of dweeby girl so of course I always think I don't want to annoy these men. You don't ever want to get beaten up or put yourself in a vulnerable situation and there were a couple of times when I felt uneasy, But it is just one of those things and you have to take a bit of a risk and I think it's worth it.

Kirstie:Ìý How did you become a journalist? I am interested in entering into this career path and so I am keen to get an insight into your course of study or previous jobs before you came to have you own documentaries.

STACEY: I've just been super duper lucky, I just fell into it really. I was working on promotions at Luton airport and 'Blood, Sweat and T-Shirts' came up two years ago. It was 'Are you interested in fashion? Are you interested in travel?' And I was like tick, tick. So then I went and saw how the British high street produces it's clothes in India and then I obviously stumbled across child labour. And it was something that I really felt completely uncomfortable with so that when I came back to England I made a definite effort to fundraise and just raise awareness. You know I didn't do anything fabulous but just joined some organisations and charities that I felt were quite cool and were doing the right thing. Then I got offered my own journey to see child labour and I was just completely so grateful and just very lucky I think.

Simondo: I would love to get involved in your campaign what can I personally do to help out?

STACEY:Ìý There are a number of charities that we worked with on the series. , that's the charity that is looking after Parang and alsoÌý. There's also an organisation called that has a campaign called 'Love Fashion, Hate Sweatshops'.

For more information about organisations working to help children, check out:

For more information about Kids With Machetes: Stacey Dooley Investigates see the programme page.Ìý

(This interview first appeared on the