But Jack Harding is no couch potato, and his love of films could scoop him a national prize at a London awards ceremony later this week.

The former South Downs College student dreams of a career in film, hoping to become the next Barry Norman or Jonathan Ross, or taking a seat in the director's chair.

Jack's reviewing skills are already so impressive he is down to the final four of a film review competition which tens of thousands of other young writers entered.

The 19-year-old's review of the German film The Counterfeiters so impressed the judges of the Film Education charity that he will travel from his home in Carshalton Avenue, Drayton, to a ceremony at the British Academy of Film Theatre and Arts on Friday to find out if he has won.

Last year's ceremony was presented by Bourne Ultimatum director Paul Greengrass and Jack cannot wait to see which heavyweight motion picture stars will be out for this year's event.

He said: 'My lecturers in film studies at South Downs College inspired in me a love of writing reviews and I began by writing for my college magazine. Now I write a review for every film I watch and I absolutely love it.

'My bedroom is like a library full of DVDs, I've got thousands.

'Luckily I work at Blockbuster in North End and I get to watch 10 free films a week, mostly from the World Film section.

'At the moment I really want to be a film critic but who knows, I might even go into directing.'

After leaving college in June Mr Harding is taking a year out before starting a film studies course at Southampton University.

He watches up to three films a day.

Film Education's director, Ian Wall said: 'Jack has done astoundingly well to make the shortlist and has obviously impressed the judges with his review.

'Whether or not he is successful in winning the top prize, it is already a remarkable achievement.'

The winner of the competition will walk away with a top of the range home cinema kit. The competition is part of National Schools Film Week which runs from October 20 to 24 and allows more than 300,000 schoolchildren to see a film for free.

For more information go to www.nsfw.org.

See next page for an example of Jack's critical style.