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Calderdale is no stranger to the big screen and over the years the borough has been used as a backdrop for a number of high-profile films and television programmes.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th Mar 2016, 14:34 BST
Updated 18th Mar 2016, 14:36 BST
Filming in Crown Street, Hebden Bridge.Filming in Crown Street, Hebden Bridge.
Filming in Crown Street, Hebden Bridge.

Last Tango in Halifax and Happy Valley have captivated viewers on a local and national scale and with a third series of the BBC’s hit police drama on the cards, Calderdale’s lure as a location hot-spot shows no sign of waning.

Scenes for The Moorside Project, a new drama about the kidnapping of Dewsbury girl Shannon Matthews, have also been shot in and around Halifax recently.

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To celebrate and recognise Calderdale’s filmic draw and importance, the council is developing a trail to showcase film and television locations of the past and present.

Filming in Crown Street, Hebden Bridge.Filming in Crown Street, Hebden Bridge.
Filming in Crown Street, Hebden Bridge.

Katie Kinsella, Calderdale Council’s prinicpal tourism officer, said: “We receive lots of enquiries in our Visitor Information Centres about wanting to explore the area where the programmes like Happy Valley and Last Tango in Halifax are filmed. As a result we are developing a trail to showcase film and TV past and present - these will be available for visitors for the start of our spring tourism season.

“The trail has been supported by Creative England and Screen Yorkshire and has been creatively written by local writer Anna Turner.”

Calderdale Council has also signed a ‘Film Friendly Partnership Charter’ which means it is committed to encouraging the development of film and television production in the area.

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Councillor Steve Sweeney, Calderdale Council’s cabinet member for communities, added: “Film and TV are big business in Calderdale, and even more so now thanks to the hugely successful ‘Happy Valley’ and ‘Last Tango in Halifax’.

Filming in Crown Street, Hebden Bridge.Filming in Crown Street, Hebden Bridge.
Filming in Crown Street, Hebden Bridge.

“They have certainly got people talking locally and nationally, and it’s wonderful to see the borough’s spectacular scenery showcased on screen.

“Calderdale has a rich past relating to film and TV, and we are keen to keep supporting filming as it raises profile and can have positive impacts on our economy.

“That includes potential job creation, local spending by filming companies and a boost in visitor numbers. It is particularly important to support the visitor economy after devastating floods hit the borough on Boxing Day 2015.

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“Screen tourism can be a massive motivating factor for tourists and there is clear evidence that people visit certain locations specifically because they have been depicted in films and TV series.

“For example, filming in Yorkshire has delivered about £22.8 million of inward investment, and the most popular locations can attract up to £1.6 million every year from international tourists.

“Calderdale has recently been awarded funding by the British Film Institute through its Creative Clusters Fund to further develop the film and gaming industry in Yorkshire with other local authorities.

“The aim is to explore how the screen industries can contribute even more as a key regional drive for growth and employment.”

Watch the video slideshow to see some of the locations which have appeared on screen over the years.

Related topics:Calderdale CouncilHappy ValleyBBC