Bolton

Home to Peter Kay, Sarah Cox, Vernon Kay and the late Fred Dibnah, Bolton already has its finger firmly in the pie when it comes to television celebrities. But what does the town itself actually have to offer to the TV and filmmakers around the country?

For starters, there’s Bolton’s Town Hall, as recently featured in an episode of the Channel 4 drama Shameless, the Victorian architecture carries some distinct features such as the prominent clock tower and the historic Le Mans Crescent.

Further afield, Bolton’s suburbs offer a range of diverse landscapes that (as expected from England’s largest town) vary dramatically in characteristics. From rows of traditional terraced houses such as Eustace Street and Lowther Street in Great Lever, currently seen in the climax of BBC Ones Life on Mars to the surrounding West Pennine moors which provide a wealth of unspoilt countryside.

Bolton’s location is also ideal for crews that need access to the range of facilities services available around Greater Manchester. A drive to the city centre itself takes only 20 minutes on the motorway with Manchester Airport a further 10 minutes away.

Also linked directly to the motorway network is the suburb of Horwich with surrounding countryside, open moorland and a huge commercial park including an indoor sports arena and the Reebok Stadium where the music video ‘Fix you’ was filmed for Coldplay.

Last year, North West Vision’s Greater Manchester Film Office recorded 32 filming days for Bolton with 66% of filming activity focusing specifically on television dramas.

Speaking on behalf of the film office, Susan Williams explains: “Bolton is a very film friendly location which explains why the inward investment generated from film related activity was approximately £704,000 last year.

“The area has featured in many TV dramas over the years and more recently, a Gregg’s commercial featuring Paddy McGuiness and a Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut commercial were shot in the town centre.

With excellent support from the council, we’re confident that we can increase the filming activity this year and put Bolton firmly on the map for visiting production companies.”

Leader of Bolton Council, Councillor Cliff Morris said: “It’s fabulous that Bolton seems to be chosen as a filming location more and more. It’s a great boost for the town and creates a feel-good factor for local people. It just goes to show that Bolton is best!”