Ok, so the extras agency have stipulated the following:

" Any programme or film that might engage a child and/or young person at some stage during the production in speaking or non-speaking roles. This includes productions which could have under 18s on set at any time as a result of last-minute changes to the schedule. " .. would require a basic DBS check from all participating extras.

Now, at first it stands to reason that you shouldn't have a child sex offender playing a father of 4 in a scene set in a school.

But here's the thing: I could be the only adult in town on the day and I'd still be disqualified.

If the production involves any children at any juncture (e.g. 17yo extra in Episode 6 set on Mars and you're an extra in Episode 1 set on Venus, so there's never any children in the same town as you during filming), you're still disqualified. If your entire job involves only adults, but the script (or at least the background context) calls for a child long after you've finished your bit and gone home (6 months later), a certain box is still ticked and you're disqualified.

So, adults-only pub scene in a soap opera - I'm ineligible if the same production includes a birth filmed miles away 6 months later.

The fact that it's only a basic check is a small mercy as my conviction will be spent in 18 months. But still,  it's one of those little blanket impertinences which form a bed other than the one I made for myself.