There are plenty of reasons why Keighley, West Yorkshire is a popular destination for the TV and Film industry. Not only has it got some great, architecturally interesting industrial buildings, which give a glimpse into the past but it’s also surrounded by beautiful countryside.
In this roundup, I’m taking a look at some of the TV and Film productions which has chosen Keighley as a location.
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Filming in Yorkshire is on the rise
Filming in Keighley has become commonplace and in 2017 Sally Joynson, chief executive of Screen Yorkshire, said the filming of such productions in Keighley and other Yorkshire locations makes a valuable contribution to the region’s economy.
“Over the last six years the making of film and television productions has grown faster in our region than anywhere else in UK, including London and the south east,” she said. The impact in the Yorkshire region of these film and television productions includes 12,000 jobs – directly and indirectly – and a total turnover of £1.1 billion. There is also a spillover impact on the tourism industry, which we reckon amounts to about 1,000 jobs and a turnover of £120 million.”
“Producers love working in Yorkshire, as we have some terrific locations and a very high quality film crew base.
“We can show that the region is punching above its weight when it comes to helping in the production of world class film and television.”
The Peaky Blinders
One of the most popular BBC TV programmes of the past decade, the Peaky Blinders has had an unavoidable impact of the UK. From inspiring a resurgence in early 20th century fashion to the scores of young people donning for 1930s hair style, one of the names of the main characters even made it into the top 10 most popular baby names. Production teams chose a couple of Keighley locations for scenes, including of course the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway Station, and the lesser known Dalton Mews.
God’s Own Country
Released in 2017, Gods Own Country was a critical success and was set around Keighley. It follows the troubles of a gay farmer struggling to come to terms with his responsibility of taking over the family farm as well as his homosexuality. The film uses several rural locations around Keighley which will be recognisable for those who know the area well.
Gunpowder
With one of the stars of Game of Thrones playing the central character, Gunpowder was a wonderful TV show which told the story of the infamous Guy Fawkes. A gritty, violent film , the programme used a number of locations in Keighley throughout filming, including Dalton Mills and other period buildings.
The Railway Children
Released in 1970, there are few people who won’t have come across the Railway Children at some point! Telling the story first published by E. Nesbit, the Waterbury children are forced to move from their luxurious life to the fictional “Great Northern and Southern Railway in Yorkshire.” The railway used in the film is none other than the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.
Sharpe’s Justice
Is there anyone more synonymous with Yorkshire than Sean Bean? Flying the flag for the region and educating the rest of the world on the Yorkshire accent, one of Bean’s breakthrough roles was in the programme Sharpe.
The made for TV Film, Sharpe’s Justice, is another iteration in the story of Major Richard Sharpe, a fictional British soldier during the Naploeonice Wars. It was popular when it was released and the series still has a cult following till this day. A pivital scene of the film, was based on the Peterlook Massacre of 1819, but was reset to Keighley in 1814 for the purpose of the story.
