BBC Red Rose puts Bolton on international stage

BBC's new horror series will be is set to be shown to the world tonight at 10pm on BBC Three and the iPlayer after its premiere last week in Bolton's The Light cinema.

The following episode will be on Tuesday, August 16 at 10pm, with future episodes, airing the same time the following week.

The show follows a group Bolton teenagers as they finish school for the summer after they finish their GCSEs when a mobile phone app infiltrates the gang which threatens grave consequences for not agreeing to its demands. 

The show's creators, twin brothers Paul and Michael Clarkson, were born and grew up in Bolton, and have heavily leaned on their memories and relationships in the writing of Red Rose.

BBC Three: Red Rose full cast list and how to watch

They said: “Bolton was a fascinating place to grow up in and the people are really inspiring. Normally, when you hear northern accents on the TV, they’re working in the kitchens on Downton Abbey or they’re crack addicts on the Bill. We thought, ‘why can’t we see real human beings?'

Paul and Michael Clarkson at the Red Rose premiere at The Light cinema in Bolton last week

“To prepare for this project, we did focus groups at our old school and the main thing that has changed is the effect of social media in kids’ lives.

"It was also really important that it was filmed in Bolton too, as it is just as much as a character as everyone else.

"The biggest compliment we've had was people telling us that there isn’t anything else like this on TV at the moment”.

Paul added: "The more people that connect with the characters, whether you’re connecting with the younger kids or are reminded of your own youth or if you’re an adult and you resonate more with what the adults are going through, I think there’s something for everyone in this show."

Once it has aired on the BBC, Red Rose will then be broadcast to the world via Netflix.

Michael said: "It’s mental thinking someone in Wyoming will sit down and look at Bolton and see Bolton and hear Bolton. We’re just so exciting for the world to see how special this place is.

BBC and Netflix Red Rose premieres in Bolton

"Boltonians and working-class people have answer to the world, and I think being able to showcase the Boltonian viewpoint of how to overcome adversity – which is crazy because the town motto is the same."

Isis Hainsworth, who plays Rochelle in the series, said:  “I don’t come from a wealthy background. Trying to get into acting, I did feel disadvantaged to an extent.

"I’d like to see more representation of working class people in general, but when playing Rochelle I feel I was able to tap into that.”

Ellis Howard (Anthony). Credit: BBC/Eleven Film Photographer: Sam Taylor

Ellis Howard plays Anthony in Red Rose. He said: "I feel there’s a big push now to have authentic stories to have them heralded. Two twins, born and bred here. Working class lads telling their life story – I think that’s so, so special.

“You see the real spirit of Northerners in this show. I think that’s seldom shown on screen. With the writers and creators - I felt like it was Northern from embryo to execution.”

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