A politics enthusiast celebrated his 18th birthday in the company of government heavyweights including Sir Vince Cable and Sir Patrick McLoughlin.

Thomas Hardye student Jake Perkins met the leader of the Liberal Democrats Sir Vince along with other famous faces while they were recording the Radio 4 political debate show “Any Questions?” at the school.

As a birthday surprise Jake, from Weymouth, was introduced to the presenter Jonathan Dimbleby as well as the other panellists who also included Labour MP Caroline Flint and managing director of Dorset’s REIDsteel Simon Boyd.

Jake, who one day hopes to work at the Foreign Office, described the experience as “absolutely amazing”.

The meet and greet was the work of his older sister Catherine Scard who was unwavering in her determination to contact the production team to give Jake a birthday to remember.

Jake said: “I am very much indebted to my sister now. It’s her birthday coming up so I’ve really got to think of something good.”

The student’s first task of the evening was to collect Sir Vince from Dorchester South train station and travel with him back to the school.

He said: “I went with Jonathan Dimbleby’s driver in a very swish Jag. It was the stuff of movies.

“We collected Sir Vince and his chief of staff which was really, really fun. I told him about the local area and what it is like growing up on the Jurassic Coast.”

Jake is currently in his second year of A-levels studying politics, law and modern history and is an active member of the Dorset Youth Council.

Next year he hopes to go to Lancaster University to read law and politics.

Prior to the live event Jake and other members of the student organising team were invited backstage to meet the panellists and production team.

He said: “They were all very supportive. Jonathan Dimbleby was so down to earth. He took time to speak to all of us, he was a really kind and genuine person.”

The ticketed event saw residents join the debate to discuss the Parsons Green terrorism attack, North Korea, and lifting the pay cap for public sector workers.