Three Dramas Commence Filming In Liverpool

Three major dramas have commenced filming on location in Liverpool, it has been unveiled.

David Morrissey stars as Inspector Tyador Borlúin in a BBC Two adaptation of China Miéville's 'The City And The City'. Produced by Mammoth Screen, filming began in the city this week.

Betsan Morris Evans, Producer, The City & The City, said: "Filming in Liverpool is a great experience. The city has a wealth of fantastic, versatile locations – both interior and exterior. The film office have supported our production fully, nothing is too much trouble and they have impressed me with their amazing can do attitude. I would come back here every time if I could."

Elsewhere, a new ITV six-part comedy – Timewasters – has also started filming. It is written and created by Daniel Lawrence Taylor, with Big Talk Productions producing the show. Timewasters is about a four-piece South London jazz band that travel back in time to the roaring Twenties. Daniel Lawrence Taylor is expected to take a star role in the series.

Katie Kearney, Line Producer, said: "I was so pleased to get the call to Line Produce the Timewasters series, after such a successful pilot shoot last February. Being from here and based here – I am really proud to show off what a fabulously film friendly city Liverpool is. We have a great crew on-board mostly crewed from the North West, and we're all really looking forward to welcoming our Producer, Director and superb cast from London to 1920s London... in Liverpool."

Liverpool has also welcomed back the team behind BBC drama Peaky Blinders. Series 4 has commenced with major scenes filmed on location in Liverpool and Sefton earlier this month. The series features Cillian Murphy as Thomas Shelby, head of the Peaky Blinders, and Tom Hardy returning as Jewish gang leader Alfie Solomons. The series sees a mysterious letter delivered on Christmas Eve, leading Thomas Shelby to realise the Peaky Blinders are in danger of annihilation. As the enemy closes in, Shelby flees his country house and returns to the streets of Small Heath, Birmingham, (shot on location in Liverpool), where a desperate fight for survival begins.

Piers Wenger, Controller BBC Drama, said: "The stellar cast Peaky Blinders continues to attract is testament to Steven Knight's incredible storytelling and the world-class production values of this original series."

Lastly, ITV1 drama Little Boy Blue will air on Monday 24 April and was shot entirely on location in and around the Liverpool city region in 2016. It is based on the police investigation that followed the murder of 11-year-old Everton fan Rhys Jones, and stars Stephen Graham as SIO Dave 'Ned' Kelly who was appointed to lead the investigation for Merseyside Police.

Councillor Wendy Simons said: "The Liverpool Film Office continue to work with all filmmakers to ensure they experience the best that the Liverpool City Region has to offer. From wonderful locations to brilliant local crew and businesses. We are very excited to watch our ambitions for the former Littlewoods site come to fruition later this year, so productions have the opportunity to stay longer to utilise all the support businesses we hope to see setting up on the site."

The City and The City producer is Betsan Morris-Evans and the director is Tom Shankland. The executive producer is Robyn Slovo, alongside Tony Grisoni, Preethi Mavahalli and Damien Timmer from Mammoth Screen and Lucy Richer for the BBC.

Peaky Blinders is a Caryn Mandabach and Tiger Aspect Drama production for BBC Two. It is executive produced by Steven Knight, Caryn Mandabach, Will Gould, Jamie Glazebrook, Frith Tiplady, Cillian Murphy, and for the BBC, Stephen Wright. The show is represented internationally by Endemol Shine International and airs on Netflix in the US.

www.liverpoolfilmoffice.tv

(JP/LM)