THE news that filming for upcoming Peaky Blinders movie The Immortal Man started in St Helens sparked excitement this month.
But it is the latest in a line of big shows and productions which have drawn camera crews to St Helens in recent years.
Residents reported seeing flashing lights in the sky as production work began at Canal Street, St Helens, at the former Pilkington Watson Street works at the start of October.
Oblik Productions confirmed to the Star in September that filming would be taking place for a Second World War Netflix film called The Immortal Man.
An article on whats-on-netflix.com suggested that the project was a 'Peaky Blinders' film. This will see Cillian Murphy will reprise his role as Tommy Shelby from the hit TV series.
A notice informing residents of the filming for the project at the St Helens location stated: "We would like to inform you that Oblik Productions are preparing for upcoming feature film called 'The Immortal man' and intend to film a series of action sequences at the Pilkington Glass Factory, on Canal Street."
Filming took place earlier in October from 6pm to 4am over various nights.
The notice said that the action sequences would be "shot entirely inside the warehouse" and required practical effects that mimic gunfire and explosions.
It added that "all necessary precautions to ensure a safe filming process have taken place”.
Coincidentally, news that scenes for the film were being shot in St Helens and neighbouring Liverpool, came just weeks after Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy challenged TV industry leaders to create more opportunities outside the capital in a keynote address at the Royal Television Society (RTS) London Conference.
She also urged the sector to employ more people from working-class backgrounds and pointed to the success of shows made outside London, such as Peaky Blinders, which often use local casts, crews and production companies to create jobs.
However, as the Star has reported in recent years St Helens has already become a hot spot location for film crews, with a number of places used as backdrops.
Location, location, location - the St Helens landmarks and locations where filming has taken place
Pilks' Watson Street site
The Watson Street site, which was closed by Pilks earlier this year, is no stranger to the cameras.
Indeed, it has hosted a range of film and TV productions, including Marvel show the Secret Invasion, which filmed a series of spectacular action sequences there.
College Street Police Station
Numerous crime and legal dramas have been shot at St Helens' police headquarters. The attraction to film crews is the redundant custody suite on the site.
In recent years, the second series of BBC prison drama Time was filmed there. The show featured Doctor Who's Jodie Whittaker and The Last of Us star Bella Ramsey in the Bafta Award-winning prison drama.
The activity has led to camera crews and trailers often being stationed on Birchley Street Police station.
Carr Mill Dam
A family-friendly adventure movie was partly filmed in St Helens premiered on Sky Cinema over summer.
Robin and The Hoods featured children fighting to protect their playing fields from developers.
Former headquarters of Pilkington Glass at Alexendra Business Park
The striking design of the former Pilkington head office, off Prescot Road, has made it an attractive backdrop for TV producers.
TV shows Funny Woman, Nolly and Maternal have all used the listed building as a filming site in recent years.
As flame-haired widow Meg Richardson in the long-running soap opera Crossroads, she was one of the most famous people in Britain.
The Pilkington headquarters site was used as the studio backdrop in the show.
The Alexandra Park site was also used in Funny Woman, starring Gemma Arterton as Barbara Parker - the force of nature who takes 1960s London by storm.
Her journey from Blackpool beauty queen to comedy superstar and nation’s sweetheart is based on ‘Funny Girl’ the best-selling novel by Nick Hornby.
Meanwhile, the ITV show Maternal used the site as a hospital backdrop,
Taylor Park
BBC’s The Responder used various St Helens locations for the hit crime drama.
Its star Martin Freeman, known for his role in The Office, Sherlock Holmes and The Avengers movie series, was spotted filming near the the park's boating lake.
Dream
Dream has become an iconic landmark in St Helens and the giant artwork has attracted fillm-makers to use it as a location.
Stay Close starred Nesbitt alongside Sarah Parish, Cush Jumbo and Richard Armitage and is based on the novel by Harlan Coben.
Earlier this year, the Star also reported how scenes from a BBC crime drama starring Sean Bean were being filmed in Haydock.
Filming took place around Haydock Laundry on Sherlock Avenue in July.
The filming is part of a star-studded eight-part series called 'This City Is Ours', which is being filmed across the Liverpool City Region.
Could we see more film-making in St Helens?
It appears St Helens is benefiting from its links with the Liverpool Film Office, which provides a liasion service for all filmmakers and location owners in the region.
However, in a keynote address at the Royal Television Society (RTS) London Conference last month Ms Nandy pushed the TV industry to create more opportunities outside London.
In the speech Ms Nandy said: “For all of the efforts made by many of you in this room, it should shame us all that television is one of the most centralised and exclusive industries in the UK.
“Because who tells the story determines the story that is told.
“So I want to ask: if you aren’t commissioning content from every part of the country – towns and villages as well as major cities – why not?
“Talent is everywhere. Opportunity is not. And if you’ve moved jobs and people and content, but the heads of departments and commissioners are still in an office in London, do something about it.”
It comes after the previous government’s Culture, Media and Sport Committee inquiry launched an investigation into film and TV in July 2023 asking what needs to be done to maintain and enhance the UK as a global destination for production.
It concluded during the election that it was “deeply concerned about skills, working conditions, and the retention of staff in the industry” which “faces considerable uncertainty”.
Ms Nandy’s speech continued: “Frankly, if you don’t know why the film industry is so attracted to the beauty of Sunderland, or why the arts sector is buzzing in Bradford, or the potential to TV of the Welsh Valleys, it is most likely because you’ve never been there. And you have no right to call yourself a public service broadcaster.
“Because public service means serving the whole people, recognising their contribution and reflecting them in our national story.
“I know it isn’t easy. The costs are short term, the payoff is long term.
“But there is so much at stake and it is my belief that an industry that belongs to the nation is an industry that will not just survive but thrive.
“That is what I want to see. We will do everything we can to put rocket boosters under your efforts, but that effort in the first place belongs to you all.
“Through us doing our bit and you doing yours. With a new relationship based on respect for one another.
“A television industry that leads the world and is the pride of all of Britain. Thriving well into the latter half of this century. That is what we will build, together.”
Ms Nandy also encouraged the industry to showcase new voices, cultures and communities on screen to increase diversity on screen.
Know of any shows filming in St Helens that we have missed? Get in touch by emailing news@sthelensstar.co.uk
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