When Dirty Den left Albert Square 14 years ago, young Cordel Roper was not even born.

So he wasn't too bothered when the EastEnders star made his recent return - until he heard him speak.

Now Cordel can be found walking around his home repeating the character's "Ello Princess" catchphrase.

And tomorrow, the pint-sized mimic will share his talents with the rest of the country.

Cordel, 11, is a rising star whose gift for impersonations has already made him popular with his school friends, teachers and even a few celebrities.

One minute he is brushing up on his finest East End accent before switching to Star Wars baddy Darth Vader.

Then, quick as a flash, he becomes Robbie Williams, Michael Jackson, Jim Carrey and John Travolta.

Cordel, of Farm Hill, Woodingdean, can also moonwalk, slouch like The Grinch, take off Ronan Keating to perfection and do a mean Elvis impersonation.

The Shoreham College pupil said: "I have been doing it ever since I was able to, since I was about three.

"My mum just thought it was normal. I have always loved it, loved dressing up and acting."

Cordel is to appear on Dick and Dom in da Bungalow between 9am and 11am on BBC1.

He was invited on after a surprise phone call from the show's producers in which he wowed them with his impressions for 30 minutes.

Cordel, who reached the final of Haribo's search for a young impressionist, said: "I can do them just like that. "I like Alistair McGowan and I would like to be like him.

"I don't know how the BBC found out, they just rang us up and I had to do my audition down the phone.

"I was gobsmacked when they said I was going to be on a television show."

Cordel will perform live but he is not too bothered by the task that lies ahead, having practised on his school mates many times before.

He said: "Everyone really likes it at school. They are always asking me to do impressions and it gets a bit annoying sometimes but I do really love it.

"My teachers get me to do them in assembly sometimes. All my friends are going to be watching and my teacher said she would be recording it."

Proud mum Caroline said it was not until recently she realised Cordel, who has had compliments from Paul Ross and singer Romeo, was really talented.

They were in America at Easter and Cordel kept getting complimented on his Elvis impressions although his dad, Peter, was not as happy to be compared to pop guru Simon Cowell.

Caroline said: "It was so normal to me that he did all this because he has always done it but in the last year we have realised it's a real talent because a number of opportunities are now coming his way.

"It's his timing, I think, that has impressed people. When he was three, we took him to see Grease and went backstage after to meet the man playing Danny.

"Cordel was correcting him on how he did the dancing for Greased Lightning and he said one day he would be coming to see Cordel in the theatre.

"It's funny because he is quite quiet normally. But as soon as you put him in front of the camera he is a different person.

"I don't know where he gets it from because I can't do impressions and I certainly can't sing."

Cordel, who is to appear in panto in Worthing this Christmas, has recently been attending the Stagecoach Theatre School in Hove once a week, which has increased his confidence and dancing skills.

Principal Jemma Prater said: "We're really proud of what Cordel has achieved so far and I know all his classmates will be glued to their TVs on Saturday."