From Top Boy to top brew! Ashley Walters is worlds away from his drug dealing ... trends now

Top Boy star Ashley Walters is worlds away from his drug dealing character in the hugely-successful Netflix series as he stars in a new PG Tips campaign.

The actor and former So Solid Crew member, 41, - know best for playing gang member Dushane Hill in Top Boy - takes centre stage in the campaign - the first TV ad from the brand in eight years.

It comes after the tea brand previously starred comedian and actor Johnny Vegas, 53, in their iconic ads. 

The new ad starring Ashley is titled 'Rock Solid', with the full campaigning cost a whopping £12million.

It has a soundtrack by Ezra Collective and is directed by Oscar-winning Steve McQueen. 

In the 70-second clip, Walters can be seen coaching himself 'out of the doldrums' over a cup of PG Tips.

He comes downstairs into the kitchen and speaks to a twin of himself as he asks: 'What's up bro? Is something bothering you?'

His other self then replied: 'I can't lie it's this new job - what if I'm not good enough?'

The other Ashley then offers him a cup of PG Tips and reassured him that he can take on anything he needs to.

He is dressed in a casual grey jumper at the kitchen table as he attempts to kick off his morning right.  

On the concept, Karen Owen, global senior marketing executive at Lipton Teas and Infusions, which owns the brand, said: 'When you look at Gen Z culture, there's a real fear of burnout. 

'They are not interested in coffee because that's burnout culture; it's pushing the problem down the road. They are much more about recovery and reconnecting with their self.'

It comes after Ashley Walters said the biggest regret of his life is when his children saw him being arrested after threatening a traffic warden back in 2002.