Northern Irish schoolboy becomes viral hit after 'frostbit' interview

A Northern Irish schoolboy has unexpectedly attracted millions of viewers with his strong Derry accent and his phrase "you wouldn't be long getting frostbit".

Ruairi McSorley was a surprise hit after he was interviewed for a UTV News package on the frosty weather earlier this week.

After his star turn - given while on his way to school in heavy snow - #frostbit was soon trending on Twitter.

After attracting millions of hits across various YouTube clips of the interview, UTV came back for more - interviewing the young man at his home and posting an unedited version of the original conversation.

Ruairi later excitedly shared the news on his Facebook page.

Gareth Wilkinson, the UTV journalist whose original interview propelled McSorley to fame, said the eccentric teenager was just as he seemed on the TV.

McSorley - who is well known in the north west of the country and has thousands of followers on his own Facebook page - is now so popular that he has been given a spot as a live guest on Irish broadcaster RTE's Saturday Night Show.