Film and TV production rises in Bristol
The Bristol Film Office has released figures showing a continued rise in film and TV production in the city from 2016-2017, contributing £18.3m to Bristol’s economy.
Apart from returning shows such as Broadchurch, Poldark and Doctor Who, Bristol also played host to Starz' The White Princess, the BBC's Three Girls, Sky's Bliss and E4's Crazyhead.
These high-profile shows contributed to a total of 1,050 filming days in the last year, up 11% on 2015/16 and an increase of 83% on 2014/15.
The figures also showed a 30% rise in the number of productions assisted to film in the city, with the Film Office issuing 484 permits.
The Bottle Yard Studios provides a vital part of the film-friendly appeal of Bristol: with eight stages it is the regular home to Poldark, Trollied and more recently, the extensive reboot of The Crystal Maze, among others. Its proximity to London and Wales also means crew can be drawn from a wider net.
Feature films to have used Bristol over the last year include Stan & Ollie, the biopic of Laurel and Hardy starring Steve Coogan and John C Reilly, and the period drama The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society with Lily James and Michiel Huisman.
Bristol Film Office’s Natalie Moore said of the figures: "Not only are more productions opting to film here, but we’re also seeing a rise in recorded filming days. This means more work for local crew and is great news for Bristol businesses in other sectors like hospitality and transport, which benefit from workforces buying more products and services.”
Also on The Knowledge
People Just Do Nothing film underway
Filming is underway on the feature film adaptation of TV comedy People Just Do Nothing with a six-week shoot taking place in Japan and the UK.
Pennyworth 2 in prep in UK
The second series of Pennyworth is now in active pre-production at a UK studio with filming due to begin in early 2020.
Roger Michell to direct The Duke
A new feature film based on the true story of the UK’s first art heist, the theft of Goya’s Duke of Wellington, is in the pipeline.
Maisie Williams starts filming Sky drama
Filming begins today (4 November) on Two Weeks to Live (w/t), a new Sky Original comedy drama starring Maisie Williams.
Last Letter From Your Lover starts UK shoot
A new film based on Jojo Moyes’ novel The Last Letter From Your Lover has just begun a Spain/UK shoot.
Finding Alice commissioned by ITV
Finding Alice, a contemporary drama about a woman coping with the sudden death of her husband, has been commissioned by ITV.