ACTOR Simon Callow was spotted selling “drugs” on the seafront – but it was all in a day’s work.

The star was filming the latest series of his hit sitcom The Rebel, braving the cold winds and rain on the promenade near Brunswick Place, Hove.

The UKTV Gold original comedy is based in Brighton and Hove.

Callow, who plays protagonist hell-raising pensioner Henry Palmer, could be seen selling “drugs” from a minivan, attracting the attention of “police officers”.

The actor told The Argus he was delighted to be in Brighton, despite the weather.

He said: “It is always lovely to come to Brighton. I have been coming here since 1954 so I am always enchanted when I come here.

“But today the weather gods have turned bitterly against us and it is as cold a day as I can remember on the Brighton and Hove seafront.”

The Rebel follows 70-year-old Henry, a resident of Brighton and an anarchic, anti-establishment pensioner.

Describing the character he plays, Callow, a double Bafta Award nominee, said: “Henry Palmer is 71 years old and is extremely angry about a lot of things, above all about the curtailments of his liberty.

“He is also a man who knows how to live and enjoy himself. He is full of mischief and likes to upset authority whenever he possibly can.”

Actors Bill Paterson and Anita Dobson, who is known for playing Angie Watts in EastEnders, are also among the cast.

They will be filming in the city until next week.

The Rebel first appeared on our screens last year after it was developed into a comedy from a cartoon strip.

Brighton-based writer and Private Eye cartoonist Andrew Birch said he was thrilled the series would be gracing screens for another year.

Talking about his inspiration for the comedy he said: “The cartoon strip in The Oldie was inspired by my father. It was based on a misbehaving pensioner and hooligan.

“Then I started writing ideas and sending them off with no success, until I gave the idea of a sitcom based on my strip, and that was taken up. Now here we are on Brighton seafront.”

The first series of just three episodes aired last summer. Now fans are set for six episodes in the next series.