Performer hopes to be a cut above

One of the applicants at the audition

An Aberdeen man who landed a job as a knife thrower's assistant is making his debut at the "sharp end".

Stephen Smith, 29, beat six other hopefuls to secure the job with the Cottle & Austen Circus which is currently in the city.

The job involves standing against a 3ft-wide board and facing 10 knives thrown at speeds of around 60mph twice a day, six days a week,

Mr Smith, who had to go through a rigorous audition in front of knife thrower Jayde Hanson, is facing his first night on Monday.

Mr Smith said: "I'm not nervous at all. It's all positive thoughts I'm having.

Knifethrower Jayde Hanson

"I really want to go for it, I really want to show the crowd that I can perform.

"I can't believe it's going to happen tonight - it's the first night so I'm really looking forward to it."

He said being offered the position had felt "brilliant" and added: "Hopefully they will keep me on because I really want to travel.

"If not it's something I will remember for the rest of my life. It's a one in a million chance."

The circus has been trying to recruit for the job of knife-thrower's assistant for the past year after the previous assistant left for a job at another circus.

Although 22 people replied when the vacancy was advertised at Aberdeen's Job Centre, only six - four women and two men - were brave enough to turn up for the audition.

The assistant is paid £240 a week, with free accommodation and travel.