A giant four-foot long sea worm which ate its way through a coral reef display at Newquay’s Blue Reef Aquarium is to star in a new wildlife documentary show.

Barry the worm hit the headlines last year after being unmasked as the mystery coral killer at the Cornish aquarium.

Reports subsequently in the Falmouth Packet and online at the packet.co.uk brought responses from people all over the world, not least the USA where people had also found and kept sea worms.

News of Barry’s exploits continued to spread with stories appearing as far afield as Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, Spain and Switzerland.

Now a film crew have visited Barry as part of a new wildlife series for the National Geographic Channel which is due to air in the autumn.

Blue Reef Aquarium’s David Waines said: “At the time we were all a little taken aback by the interest that Barry created.

“He’s not the most attractive of creatures – in fact he looks like something out of a horror movie - but he obviously struck a chord with the public and now he’s become one of our most popular displays.

“Fans set up Facebook sites and he even inspired an American rabbi to write a poem about him,” he added.

Barry’s new found fame isn’t the only reason for him to celebrate however as a member of the public heard about his story and has donated a mini-Barry of his own to Blue Reef.

“We got a call to ask if we wanted a tank mate for Barry so now, as well as starring in his own documentary, he’s also got another sea worm to keep him company,” added David.

In addition to having two sets of powerful jaws, Barry is covered with thousands of bristles which are capable of inflicting a sting resulting in permanent numbness.

It’s believed he probably arrived at the aquarium as a juvenile in a shipment of living rock from another aquarium.