#FilminginLancashire

Lancashire as seen on screen

A selection of major film & television productions shot in Lancashire

Premiered on 15 June 2023:

  • Greatest Days (Elysian Film Group) follows five best friends who have the night of their lives seeing their favourite boy band in concert. Twenty-five years later their lives have changed in many different ways as they reunite for one more epic show by their beloved band, to relight their friendship and discover that maybe their greatest days are ahead of them. Greatest Days is the feel-good, universal story of love and friendship filmed in Clitheroe, Lancashire and featuring the hit songs of TAKE THAT. Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald are executive producers for the film.
  • Greatest Days is directed by Coky Giedroyc (How to Build a Girl), written by Tim Firth (Calendar Girls), and produced by Danny Perkins, Kate Solomon, Jane Hooks, and Karl Spoerri and Viviana Vezzani, the film stars Aisling Bea (This Way Up), Alice Lowe (Black Mirror), Jayde Adams (The Outlaws), Amaka Okafor (The Responder) and Marc Wootton (Nativity!). Lara McDonnell (Belfast), Jessie Mae Alonzo (Little Joe), Nandi Hudson (Army of Thieves), Carragon Guest and Eliza Dobson also star in the film, as well as Aaron Bryan (The Little Mermaid), Joshua Jung (Emma Bunton – Tour), Dalvin Cory (Wicked), Mark Samaras (Swan Lake), Mervin Noronha (What’s Love Got to Do with It?)  Watch the official trailer here.

Most recently:

  • The real David Fishwick Bank of Dave (Netflix) A true(ish) film about the Burnley businessman and self-made millionaire Dave Fishwick, who dares to dream of setting up a community bank in the face of considerable pushback from the Financial Services Authority. Rory Kinnear plays Dave with Jo Hartley playing his wife Nicola, in a feelgood film that shows the  affable and canny Lancastrian succeed in his aim.  The Bank of Dave does exist with all profits donated to local charities, food banks and other good causes. With some filming in and around Burnley and even at Dave’s home, it was released in January 2023 and was soon number one film on Netflix.
  • © 2022 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved. Cleveleys seafront and cafe recognisable to those familiar with the location,

    Andor (Disney +) The fourth live-action series in the Star Wars franchise.  The series tells the tale of the burgeoning rebellion against the Empire, focusing on thief-turned-rebel spy, Cassian Andor (Diego Luna).  With a stellar cast including: Stellan Skarsgard, Genevieve O’Reilly, Kyle Soller, Fiona Shaw, Anton Lesser, Ben Miles.  Filming took place in Cleveleys and Blackpool in May 2021 with the first episode streamed September 2022. Watch official trailer here.

  • (ITV1)

    The Bay (Tall Story Pictures) an ITV crime drama set in Morecambe that first aired in March 2019 and is now on Series 4. Missing persons, murders and the lives and relationships of the local police team contribute to a hugely popular TV show, that showcases the natural beauty of Morecambe Bay. Actor Morven Christie starred in the first two series, with Marsha Thomason replacing her in the family liaison officer role from series 3 (series 3 trailer). Daniel Ryan, Erin Shanagher, Thomas Law and Andrew Dowbiggin make up a formidable core cast. Written by Lancashire-based writer Daragh Carville.

    To find out more about the locations in and around Morecambe →  The Bay Locations 

  • Credit: Ben Blackall / Sky UK

    Brassic (Sky One)  Comedy drama series that premiered August 2019 and is now one of Sky’s most popular TV comedy shows.  It follows the lives of petty criminal Vinnie (Joe Gilgun) and single mum Erin (Michelle Keagan) and the trials, tribulations and trouble Vinnie and his pals encounter in the fictional town of Hawley. Co-creator Gilgun’s Hawley was inspired by his childhood hometown Chorley, with many scenes now shot in and around Bacup. Series 4 Official trailer here. Watch out for series 5 in 2023, along with a Christmas special.

 

Classic TV and major feature films:

 

  • The Trip (Revolution Films) – a 6 part comedy drama starring Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon which sees the pair travelling around Lancashire, Cumbria and Yorkshire posing as restaurant critics and is directed by the award winning Michael Winterbottom (A Mighty Heart, 24 Hour Party People, The Road to Guantanamo).
    Filming in Lancashire took place across the Ribble Valley and Lancaster districts between end of Feb/mid-March 2010. The Lancashire restaurants/hotels featured are Inn at Whitewell and Hipping Hall.
  • The King’s Speech (Momentum) – Queens Street Mill was the location for scenes in this multi-Oscar winning film, which told the story of King George VI’s determination to overcome his problems with speech.  Starring Colin Firth, Helena Bonham-Carter and Geoffrey Rush the scenes were shot at the mill in 2009 and the film was released in 2010.
  • AWOL (Kindle Entertainment) – a 90min drama for the BBC written by Lin Coghlan and directed by BAFTA award-winning director Marc Munden, AWOL is a tough but tender story about Britain’s lost kids. Starring Aaron Taylor, Thomas Sangster and Michelle Asante, AWOL is the story of three brothers on the road and on the run. It was filmed in Burnley and West Lancashire during Oct/Nov 2009.
  • Nowhere Boy (Ecosse Films) – Biopic of the life of John Lennon, directed by Sam Taylor Wood and starring Kristin Scott Thomas, this feature shot in Blackpool for three days in March 2009 on the North Pier and Trafalgar Road. It was released nationwide on 25th December 2009.
  • Casanova (Red Productions) – drama series starring Peter O’Toole, Matt Lucas and David Tennant (before his Dr.Who days). It was filmed at Hoghton Tower, Lytham Hall and Towneley Hall in 2005.
  • Boy A (Cuba Pictures) – gripping drama about a young ex-con Jack, newly released from serving a prison sentence for a murder he committed as a child Winner of several BAFTA TV Awards including Best Actor and Best Director. It was filmed in Blackpool in 2006.
  • Born & Bred (BBC) – popular Sunday night drama, filmed in Downham village between 2002-2005. Downham’s village pub, the Assheton Arms, features in the programme as The Signalman’s Arms. Damens railway station is 20 miles from Downham and is seen as Ormston in the TV series.
  • The Ruby in the Smoke (BBC) – drama series based on the novels by Philip Pullman and starring Billy Piper and Julie Walters, filmed at Sunderland Point in Morecambe in 2005.
  • Life on Mars (Kudos Film & Television) – cult drama set during the 1970’s and starring John Sim and Philip Glenister, filmed an episode at Hoghton Tower in 2006.
  • Max & Paddy’s Road To Nowhere (Channel 4) – popular spin off from Phoenix Nights written by, and starring, Peter Kay and Paddy McGuinness. Filming took place in Blackpool and Preston in 2004.
  • North and South (BBC) – a four-part drama adaptation of the Elizabeth Gaskell novel, starring Daniela Denby-Ashe and Richard Armitage. This popular series was filmed at Helmshore Textile Museum in Rossendale in 2004.
  • Blackpool (BBC) – acclaimed drama series starring David Tennant, Sarah Parish, and Steve Pemberton, filmed at various locations in Blackpool in 2003. The series was nominated for a Golden Globe and a BAFTA.
  • Possession (Warner Bros) – feature film starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Aaron Eckhart about two literary sleuths who unearth the secret of two Victorian poets, only to find themselves falling under a passionate spell. It was filmed at Leighton Hall near Carnforth in 2001.
  • The Parole Officer (Figment Films/Toledo Pictures) – feature film written by, and starring, Steve Coogan about a failed parole officer who is framed for murder and has to enlist the help of his former clients to clear his name. Filmed in Blackpool in 2000.
  • Hetty Wainthropp Investigates (BBC) – popular BBC drama starring Patricia Routledge which filmed at various locations in Darwen and Rawtenstall during 1996-1998.
  • Moll Flanders (Granada Television) – based on the novel by Daniel Defoe starring Alex Kingston and Daniel Craig, this popular drama was filmed at Hoghton Tower, Astley Hall and Rivington Castle in 1996.
  • All Quiet on the Preston Front(BBC) – drama series starring a young Alistair MacGowan charting the every day lives and mis-adventures of a group of friends most of whom belong to their local unit of the Territorial Army. Filmed at various locations in Padiham, Rossendale and Darwen between 1994 – 1997.
  • Three Men & A Little Lady (Touchstone Pictures) – sequel to ‘Three Men & A Baby’ starring Tom Selleck and Ted Danson, the production filmed exteriors at Stonyhurst College in the Ribble Valley in 1990.
  • Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life (Universal Pictures) – this BAFTA nominated film from the Monty Python team filmed at various streets in Colne in the early 1980’s.
  • Whistle Down The Wind (Beaver Films) – starring Alan Bates and Hayley Mills this 1961 film tells how three children assist an escaped convict they find in their barn, convinced that he is Jesus. The farm used in the film was Worsaw End Farm in Downham. Other locations featured include Burnley and Bacup.
  • Brief Encounter (Cineguild) – nominated for three Oscars this classic love story starring Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard was filmed at Carnforth Railway Station in 1945. It is still said to be one of the most romantic films ever made.

For more information contact:

  •  Anna Izza, Head of PR and Communications Tel.07918 714881
  • Raimy Greenland, Senior PR and Content Executive Tel. 07918 714887

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