The red carpet was rolled out in Bolton tonight as the creators and stars of BBC Three and iPlayer's newest horror series attended the premiere at The Light Cinema.
Red Rose is the brainchild of Bolton twin brothers Paul and Michael Clarkson, and the former Thornleigh students were adamant that the series which they have described as a “love letter” to the town would be shown to its first audiences here.
Paul admitted he was nervous in the run up to the premiere, and described the moment as “really bizarre”.
“I’ve never felt like this in my life,” he added. “It’s really hard to articulate.
“I feel freaked out, a bit, and I feel tired, and I feel excited.
“We have felt immense pressure making this show. Not because of the act of making the show. This is one of the first times the north will ever have been depicted like this and we wanted to make sure that no one would feel not proud of it.”
Red Rose follows teenage friends after their GCSE exams are over, when a sinister mobile phone app which threatens grave consequences of disobeying its requests infiltrates the young group.
Set and filmed in Bolton, the Clarkson twins say that their hometown is as much of a character as the rest.
Michael said: “I want Bolton teens to watch this and feel like their lives are cinema-worthy, like they are film-worthy, because they are. This town is full of such inspiring stories and inspiring people and to see it on screen and come alive like that.
“It’s American cinema energy on top of Bolton because, why not? Why can’t a place like this take its centre stage with places like LA? Why can’t it do it with New York? Because the people here are so real and so interesting cinema worthy.”
There were two screening shown throughout the day, and audiences which included Maxine Peake and Amy Anzel were not only treated by being the first sets of eyes to see the much anticipated first episode, but they also had the opportunity to ask questions to the twins and some of the cast in a Q&A session - hosted by BBC Radio One DJ Katie Thistleton.
Bolton South East MP Yasmin Qureshi as well as deputy leader of Bolton Council Hillary Fairclough both also attended the event.
Ms Qureshi said: "It was a pleasure to attend the Red Rose premiere in Bolton and meet members of the cast and the Bolton-born writers. We've got a significant cultural offering in Bolton and it's something we must continue to talk up and promote."
Cllr Fairclough said: "This is fantastic for Bolton. It Bolton on the map and hopefully it'll be the first of many.
"Bolton is well-known for for its talents and it's lovely to have two more on board."
Red Rose will hit television screens and online via the BBC Three and iPlayer on Monday August 15. It will also be going to Netflix after the show has been aired in the UK, which will show off Bolton to a global audience.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here