Meet Daniel Needlestone — the face of a new online government campaign to recruit IT teachers. Mr Needlestone, who teaches information and communications technology (ICT) and computing at Rickmansworth School, Herts, was chosen on behalf of the Teacher Development Agency (TDA) to star in two YouTube adverts which seek to garner enthusiasm for computing.

Mr Needlestone, 29, tells People: “The videos aim to encourage people to go into ICT teaching as it is a real area of shortage. There is so much demand at the moment for qualified ICT teachers.” Mr Needlestone was chosen by the TDA after they read his e-learning blog, www.nstoneit.com. The videos launched last month. “The web offers great opportunities to bring people together into online communities,” says Mr Needlestone, who is founder of the Jewish Teachers’ Association.