Second series of acclaimed BBC drama Time 'being filmed' in St Helens

Crews were set up on Birchley Street car park throughout last week as production teams used the College Street police station as a location.

It is understood that the second series of prison drama Time is being filmed there.

The first series of Jimmy McGovern's hard-hitting BBC show aired in 2021 and starred Sean Bean and Stephen Graham.

Earlier this year it was confirmed Doctor Who's Jodie Whittaker and The Last of Us star Bella Ramsey will play inmates in the second series of the Bafta Award-winning prison drama.

Trailers in Birchley Street car park (Image: St Helens Star)

For the follow-up, the story will be set in a women's prison.

It is understood that scenes are being filmed at the local station, which has a disused custody suite.

The empty cells and custody area mean the venue is regularly used for filming.

Among shows to use it as a location in recent years are Sky's Tin Star and ITV's The Bay. 

Crews also recorded scenes for a major Paramount+ crime drama series - Sexy Beast - a prequel to the 2000 gangster classic Sexy Beast - in November last year.

The use of St Helens as a destination for filming scenes has grown considerably in recent years.

The former Pilkington head office at Alexandra Park has seen film crews descend numerous times.

Earlier this month, the Star reported how scenes were being shot there for a film telling the story of Brian Epstein – the founder of The Beatles. The working title – which is subject to change – is Midas Man.

The former Pilks head office (Image: Andrew George)

ITV drama Maternal was also filmed there as was Nolly, starring BAFTA award-winning star Helena Bonham-Carter as the title character.

And the office tower block - which is a listed building - was used in Sky's Funny Woman, starring Gemma Arterton.

Two years ago the Netflix hit Stay Close - starring James Nesbitt - used Dream in Sutton Manor as a key location - and last year land on Pilkington's Watson Street works was used as a set for the Disney +'s Secret Invasion, which is a Marvel Series with Samuel L. Jackson.

BAFTA nominated police drama The Responder was another show to use numerous St Helens locations as a backdrop, underlining that the town is proving an attractive destination for filmmakers.

Second series of Time

Time's second series is expected to see Tamara Lawrance, known for the film The Silent Twins, join the cast, while Happy Valley's Siobhan Finneran will reprise her role as a prison chaplain.

Whittaker, Lawrance and Ramsey will play convicted women who all arrive on the same day.

Tamara Lawrance will play the role of Abi in the series I Image caption, Tamara Lawrance will play the role of Abi in the series.

Jodie Whittaker (Image: BBC)

Whittaker told the BBC: "Time was such an incredible and powerful show created by an extraordinary team, and being a part of this project in its second iteration is an absolute dream."

McGovern has been co-writing the second series with Helen Black, whose BBC Three drama Life and Death in the Warehouse is nominated for this year's Baftas.

Lawrance said: "Being a part of women-centred stories and productions is very important to me, as well as projects that challenge a prejudice.

"Time series two humanises a sector of society that is too often and easily vilified by elucidating the layered reasons why people end up in the criminal (in)justice system."

Bella Ramsey has just starred in hit post-apocalyptic drama The Last of Us Ramsey said it was an honour to play her character Kelsey and that she was "really excited to experience the world through her for a few months".

Finneran told the BBC she was "delighted to be returning for Time two", adding: "It was a privilege to be involved in the first series and to be asked back is an honour, the scripts are again heartbreakingly brilliant."

Meanwhile, Siobhan Finneran stars as prison chaplain Marie-Louise McGovern, who is famed for creating the ITV drama Cracker, said: "This is the best cast I have ever seen assembled for any drama of mine."

Filming in and around Liverpool

The BBC said in April that filming for series two would "take place in and around Liverpool soon".

The first series portrayed life in a male prison and won Baftas for best mini-series and best actor for Bean.