Posted: Thursday 18th September 2008

Tom Thurlow has achieved a lot in a relatively short space of time. At age 16, Thurlow was crowned Top Entrepreneur Of The Year by The Mail On Sunday and in the last couple of years he's found success online with his show Hollyoaks On The Streets.

Now Thurlow is readying the start of his new series for online social network Bebo, Meet The Freshers. To find out more about the show and Thurlow himself, we caught up with him to find out exactly what Meet The Freshers is about as well as gaining an insight into the life of a young entrepreneur.

1.Let's begin by asking you to tell us something about you that no one knows?

Oh I don't think I have anything particularly exciting to reveal... but I've never told anyone that I adore The Simple Life series!

2. Tell us about your new show 'Meet The Freshers'.

Meet The Freshers does exactly what it says on the tin. I will go to a different university each Friday and 'Meet The Freshers'. I will interview them and find out what wild, crazy things they're getting up to and whether the transition to university is a fun one. It will be a kind of reality-documentary but turned entertainment show with cheesy games!

3. You've fit a lot into your career so far. How do you manage it?

Work, work, work! Anyone could do what I've done if they wanted to. It's whether they decide to pull themselves up, not rely on anyone else, and start working and getting the ideas flowing. I've just kept going. With every successful venture/project I've done I've had a flop which never went any further than just an idea. It's all about sheer determination and the energy to keep going.

4. How did you build your association with Bebo?

I created a series called Hollyoaks on the Streets where I bought a camera and hit the streets of my hometown in Cheltenham, asking people for their views on the show. I edited it and put it up on Bebo. After 3 weeks it had 150,000 views and Bebo really liked it and invited me in for tea! That's how I first came in to contact with them!

5. What was 'Hollyoaks on the Streets' like for you?

Very enjoyable. I love meeting people so it wasn't daunting to go up to strangers and ask for their views on Hollyoaks. I do enjoy the vox-pop format and it's probably something I'll be doing for some time.

6. How did you come to launch your own production company, 'Teen Star Ltd'?

When I started to get shows commissioned I realised that I can produce them. So I set up the company to hold all my formats (like Meet The Freshers). It also means I'm keeping my entrepreneurial flair.

7. Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?

I would love to emulate a fraction of Simon Cowell's success. I would love my company to be producing prime time entertainment shows and for me to be presenting X Factor or something fun and energetic like that.

8. What advice could you offer other youngsters wanting to follow in your footsteps?

Just go out and do it yourself and if you have talent hopefully you'll get spotted like I did.

9. What's on your iPod at the moment?

Oh dear... loving Christina Aguilera's new song and Britney, Girlicious. Oh dear this question makes me look awful. I'm going to cringe now.

10. What are your plans for the rest of 2008?

I am doing a new show for MTV online so look out for that and there are more things in the pipeline which should hopefully be fun! But Meet The Freshers will take up most of my time for the rest of this year as it starts this Friday the 19th so definitely check it out on www.bebo.com/MeetTheFreshers!

Meet The Freshers starts on Friday 19th September 2008 on www.bebo.com/MeetTheFreshers