Behind The Scenes on the New Christmas Movie Filmed Across Yorkshire
We might have found your new favourite festive film!
Nothing beats cosying up in front of the TV with the family at Christmas and you’ll want to add Tinsel Town to your watch list this year. With a star-studded cast, it’s been directed by Chris Foggin (known for the 2022 festive film This Is Christmas) who’s passionate about filming up North.
‘I was up in Yorkshire, Leeds specifically, filming Bank of Dave 2 when Sky sent me this script about an actor in America who’s coming to the end of his reign of making blockbuster movies and wants to come to the UK to test himself as an actor,’ says Chris. ‘He thinks he’s coming across to do Hamlet at The Globe, but when he arrives he finds out he’s playing Buttons in Cinderella in panto. I just loved that concept – I love pantomimes (I go to them every year) so I loved this idea that celebrates panto season but also celebrates the North, where I’m from. We shot in picturesque places across Yorkshire which has just been amazing.’
Chris knew immediately that he wanted to film Tinsel Town in Yorkshire. ‘It kind of needed a chocolate box, romantic feel to it, and having spent a lot of time in Yorkshire throughout my film career, I know it’s such a beautiful place to be,’ he says. ‘There was only one place to set this film really, and it had to be Yorkshire.
‘We filmed the interior of the theatre in Wakefield and built interiors in the fantastic Versa Leeds Studios, then built the world around it in Wetherby and Knaresborough. We shot those scenes in January and February when the Christmas lights were still up (the council allowed us to do that). All the business owners were happy for us to be there and if we needed to use a particular location they would close for us. There’s just something about those places, whether at night or daytime, that feel romantic.’ Parts of the production also took place in Harrogate and Leeds.
Chris loved his time working in Yorkshire, and a well-planned filming schedule and huge backing from the local community and filming industry enabled such a big project to go smoothly. ‘This is why I’ll always try to make films in the North, the people just make the experience,’ he says. ‘We had a fantastic crew and everyone who works in the film and TV industry in Yorkshire are brilliant. When you’re out and about, locals are so supportive too. That side of things always goes without any problems. I suppose the real challenge is the cold! When you’re filming in winter and have a lot of exterior shots, it’s very cold. There are a lot of hand and foot warmers required!’ Rebel Wilson posted online when filming wrapped earlier this year, saying ‘being outside was like free cryotherapy’ but that she ‘loved filming in Leeds, Knaresborough and Harrogate’. Spoiler, she also gave a shout out to a ‘Kylie Minogue panto number’ which we’re thoroughly looking forward to.
‘There was only one place to set this film really, and it had to be Yorkshire’
Locals were keen to follow the film crew across the county, star spotting. Emmy Award-winning Kiefer Sutherland plays lead role Bradley, and Rebel plays choreographer Jill. They’re joined by comedian Katherine Ryan (Bradley’s long suffering agent) and the local villagers played by legendary actors Derek Jacobi and Meera Syal, comedian and actors Jason Manford and Asim Chaudhry, actor and presenter Danny Dyer and actor Lucien Laviscount. ‘The cast were so good,’ says Chris. Before you start filming you think, it would be great if Asim could do certain things, and he always responded to it. It was down to the strength of the script. People love panto in this country, and we managed to get Danny Dyer to come in for a couple of days – we were very lucky. I’d definitely pinch myself every morning, especially when blocking all those scenes with this amazing cast. It was a really exciting thing to have those actors on set and they all got on so well. Kiefer was a great sport and Rebel was just amazing.’
Despite crowds inevitably forming, filming went without a hitch. ‘In Wetherby we used the town hall, which is a beautiful building in the middle of the square, for the exterior of the theatre and sometimes we wouldn’t finish filming ’til up to midnight and people would still be out standing in the cold just watching,’ he says. ‘If you turned the cameras around to where they were standing, the marshalls would ask people to move, and they would move straight away. Everyone was really well behaved.’
Now the film’s release date is just weeks away and Chris hopes everyone will find joy in Tinsel Town over the festive period. ‘Every day I wake up and it gets closer to it coming out, I get absolutely terrified,’ he laughs. ‘But I’m really proud of the film, and I’m hoping people enjoy it. I just want to make films that people can watch with their family and I’m hoping this is a film that they can stick on this Christmas and it’s one they can watch every year. It’s a feel-good celebration of the North in so many ways and I hope it can put a smile on people’s faces.’
Yorkshire puddings on a Christmas dinner, yes or no?
100% yes, 12! I always make sure I get about 12 Aunt Bessie's just for me – and mashed potato.
What is your favourite Christmas film?
The Home Alone(s) because it takes me back to when I was a kid. I would always watch Home Alone at Christmas with my parents. When the second one came out we went to the cinema and I vividly remember watching that one on Christmas Eve. I do love a bit of Love Actually as well.
What is your favourite Christmas song?
Chris Rea’s Driving Home For Christmas. Because of this industry I’ve moved down south so I look forward to going home at Christmas, and I’ll always put that track on.
How are you celebrating Christmas this year?
I’ve got two young boys so there’s a big focus on them, and the whole family. We’ll be with my wife’s family and my family all together up in Durham. All of us together should be about 20 and I’m very much looking forward to it.
