Written by on May 22, 2015. Posted in On Location

Bristol reports steady production figures as UK TV films western England

British TV shoots have kept location filming levels steady in Bristol, in the west of England. High-profile shows shot in the city in recent months have included a special period episode of the BBC’s international hit Sherlock.

Bristol Film Office issued 10% more filming licences last year, although the overall inward investment figure slipped slightly on the previous year to GBP 17.5 million.

Over the past year Bristol has hosted major UK TV productions like the BBC’s period dramas Poldark and Wolf Hall, in addition to Sherlock and The Casual Vacancy (below), an adaptation of JK Rowling’s first adult novel.

International shoots are also starting to discover the city, with Disney’s fairytale TV drama Galavant based at The Bottle Yard Studios.

“The figures point to a consistently strong and reliable level of production in the city, which is great news, and the calibre of productions we attract to Bristol has certainly been rising in the last 12 months,” said Natalie Moore of the Bristol Film Office.

“With an established production hub at The Bottle Yard Studios and a responsive support service from Bristol Film Office, we’ve developed a comprehensive film making infrastructure making Bristol a national location of choice,” added George Ferguson, Mayor of Bristol.

“Amongst the many benefits generated are employment and skills development, raising Bristol’s profile across the world and vital investment in this city’s cultural and creative landscape.”

The UK’s TV tax credit has played a crucial role in opening up Britain as a viable filming location. High-end dramas are now able to film on location in the UK, rather than pursue better filming incentive programmes in Europe or elsewhere in the world.

International TV productions have still largely remained in and around London. However, Northern Ireland has enjoyed sustained global interest with Game of Thrones and Da Vinci’s Demons has become a long-term resident in South Wales. Similarly, Galavant could be the beginning of greater global exposure for Bristol and the west of England.

(Sherlock image: BBC; The Casual Vacancy image: Bronte Film and Television Ltd/Steffan Hill)