Normal People heartthrob Paul Mescal reportedly pocketed £1.1 million for appearing in a Samsung ad campaign.

The 24-year-old shot to fame playing broody Irish youngster Connell in the drama, which was released as a BBC boxset last April just after the world had entered coronavirus lockdown.

The actor was in high demand following the show's popularity and according to The Sun, phone firm Samsung were prepared to pay him seven figures to star in its 'Spotlight' advertising campaign.

"Paul finished the year on a high thanks to his deal with Samsung and things are still looking up," a source told the newspaper.

"It's the biggest commercial deal he'd signed since he made it big on Normal People and it ended up being worth £1.1 million.

"It's a big fee but it is paying off for Samsung, as the advert has already been watched more than 2.5 million times on YouTube alone."

Mescal is currently in Australia filming opera adaptation Carmen.