The government has launched a crackdown on rogue agencies which charge aspiring actors and models hundreds of pounds in upfront fees.
Campaigners say thousands of would-be performers are persuaded to part with large sums of money to cover "registration fees" or the cost of a portfolio, only to find the lucrative showbusiness contracts that they had hoped for never materialise.
Pat McFadden, the business minister, said new legislation would ban agencies from charging any upfront fees.
"Unfortunately there are some rogue agencies that prey on models and entertainers who have stars in their eyes," he said. "Last year we introduced a cooling-off period for upfront fees, but we are still receiving some reports that people are being exploited. So now we are going even further by banning them outright."
Clive Hurst, who has been campaigning against rogue agencies for more than a decade, welcomed the announcement. He said: "These companies are cashing in on people's dreams, charging upfront fees in the knowledge that they are unlikely to secure work. They often then refer them on to a second agency, who charge another fee."
Draft regulations laid in parliament later this month will come into force next year and aim to protect models, background artists, extras and walk-ons from exploitation when they sign up with talent agencies.
Martin Kenny, of the performers' and artists' trade union Equity, said: "We fully support these changes and hope that they will further strengthen the rights of workers across all industry offering greater protection against the acts of unscrupulous agents."
