Bolton retains its title as Hollywood of the North

Our wonderful town has been beamed into the living rooms of millions as it becomes a stunning backdrop for many primetime dramas and films.

And Bolton Council says it is committed to supporting filming in Bolton which gives the town a huge platform to showcase its wonderful locations, from Le Mans to Rivington.

Bolton Council's deputy leader Cllr Hilary Fairclough said: “It has been another packed year of filming and we have once again welcomed some of the biggest names in television to Bolton.

“We have rolled out the red carpet for Helena Bonham-Carter, Robert Carlisle, Stephen Graham, Sarah Lancashire and many more.

“Bolton has provided a spectacular backdrop for shows as diverse as Coronation Street, Happy Valley and the Full Monty.

“It has also been a great year for our own homegrown talent. The BBC’s Red Rose, which was created by two Bolton writers and starred several local actors, was filmed and had its premiere here in Bolton.

“As a council, we do all we can to support filming in the borough and to showcase the best of Bolton to a primetime audience.

“We look forward to a busy film schedule in the year ahead, and to hosting even more big-name productions in 2023.”

Big names certainly did flock to the town, with the borough being dubbed the new Hollywood by This Morning.

Although the climate could not be mistaken for west coast of the United States, it’s easy to see why the area has built itself such a reputation.

'Is Bolton the new Hollywood?' (Image: ITV)

Shooting for one of the BBC's best-loved dramas Happy Valley, starring Sarah Lancashire, used Bolton School the backdrop to some of its scenes - a tried and tested canvas for film makers.

Boltonians can try and catch a glimpse of their home town when it is released on New Year's Day.

Fast forward to June of this year, and another huge Hollywood name was seen on the same street. Harry Potter’s Helena Bonham Carter was spotted filming ITV drama, Nolly, which is set to premiere in February 2023.

READ MORE: The Fully Monty stars come to town to film new series

From Hollywood royalty to British classics. Stars of the upcoming series which follows on from the hit 90s film, The Full Monty, were seen in Victoria Square for a couple of weeks in August of this year.

Stars of The Full Monty (Image: Newsquest)

A date has not been set, but the mini-series also thought to be premiering next year on Disney plus with many of its original cast including Robert Carlyle.

There are a number of other productions that were filmed in the borough that residents can look forward to also.

In September, a crew set up on Higher Market Street in Kearsley to film the popular Sky Max series Brassic, which again is slated for next year but with no official date announced.

Helena Bonham Carter spotted in Bolton (Image: Newsquest)

And Netflix were also in town in the same month as they filmed a new crime thriller, Bodies, which stars Stephen Graham.

READ MORE: Netflix crime drama Bodies being filmed in Bolton

Bolton has also been the backdrop to a number of adverts – one for the electoral commission and another for ITV starring the boroughs own Vernon Kay. Crews were seen on Le Mans Crescent and the town hall steps respectively.

Le Mans Crescent has proved a popular location to film in, with Coronation Street stars also using the street for a big court room scene back in June.

And to see Bolton in all its glory, Red Rose, a horror series which aired on BBC in August, was labelled by its creators – Bolton-born twins Michael and Paul Clarkson – as a “love letter” to the place they grew up in.

If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at lewis.finney@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @lewisfinney18.