James Steerforth, as a young man Harry Lloyd Steerforth takes David under his wing at Salem House and earns his blind devotion, man and boy. The consequences of this will haunt David throughout his life. It was only after the audition that 15-year-old Harry Lloyd admitted that he had a connection with the author of David Copperfield. "I was asked what I knew about Dickens," says Lloyd. "I said I should know loads because of the family heritage, but I don't really know anything. They said 'Heritage? What was that again?' I said, 'Well, Charles Dickens was my great-great-great-grandfather. My mum's maiden name is Dickens.' They said it's the best answer they'd ever had to that question! Then they said it wouldn't affect their decision in any way, being related! I don't think it did any harm, but I don't think it was a distinguishing factor." Lloyd, who goes to school at Eton, was spotted when casting people were visiting various schools, looking for a young Steerforth. Oliver Milburn, who plays Steerforth as an adult, also went to Eton.