GOODBYE 2025, YOU’VE BEEN GREAT!
As the year we released our 35th anniversary showreel to the world draws to a close, we look back at the best bits that came to your screen from across Liverpool City Region over the past 12 months…
With Spring came a new Liverpool-set show perfect to sink your teeth into. Supported by LFO and the CA, BBC’s This City is Ours brought the next big scouse star to our attention as gangsters took over the city from Gateacre to Gaucho. Plus, Apple’s Fountain of Youth showcased John Kransinski and Natalie Portman as siblings starting their globe-trotting adventures in the Walker Art Gallery and Exchange Flags.
A return to school on the Wirral with ITV’s G’wed 2 kicked off the summer months, and the heat was on for Idris Elba and John Cena in Amazon’s Heads of State, escaping from the Port of Liverpool building in one of this year’s most watched blockbusters.
Autumn brought our docklands, great halls and Georgian Quarter into the stout-black world of Dublin’s most-prominent family in House of Guinness – our region once again transforming into a period setting. Channel 4’s Rose d’Or winner, The Jury: Murder Trial took viewers to St George’s Hall courts and the special 30th anniversary edition of Hollyoaks made one final, celebratory return to Liverpool’s most-beloved cul-de-sac.
Winter saw a farcical trip to the grandeur of Knowsley Hall with the release of Fackham Hall in cinemas – ending a jam-packed year on Merseyside and we’re excited to be back with what’s sure to be an even bigger 2026…
RETURN OF FACILITIES FRIDAY!
We begin with a look at GWF Catering, the Knowsley-based, Northwest operating catering services that have kept production fed throughout the LCR since 2021.
RETURN OF CREWSDAY TUESDAY
Meet Supervising Location Manager Kevin Jackson! We met Kev and two of his Liverpool based team, John Vaughan, Location Manager and Harvey Shaw Assistant Location Manager for a chat about their work on Quay Street Productions ‘Lazarus’ for Amazon MGM Studios, screened on Prime Video and asked them all about filming in their home city!
CALLING ALL NORTHERN SCREEN LEADERS!
Calling all ambitious scripted TV & screen leaders in the North of England!
Ready to scale, innovate, and future-proof yourself and your team?
INTO THE LEAD is a new high-impact programme (Jan–April, limited places) aimed at scripted TV or screen business leaders in the North of England, designed to help you:
Learn and harness new tech and AI / Build resilient, future-ready leadership / Connect and collaborate with like-minded peers / Build a sustainable and inclusive work place
Expect expert-led workshops, networking opportunities and actionable growth plans all focused on unlocking your next chapter.
Don’t get left behind. Step Into the Lead.
To find out more and to register your interest – https://www.screenalliancenorth.co.uk/into-the-lead/
This project is funded by our screen cluster Screen Alliance North (Liverpool Film Office, North East Screen, Screen Manchester and Screen Yorkshire) with the support of the British Film Institute (BFI), awarding #NationalLottery funding.
MEET THE TEAM
Meet the people behind Liverpool Film Office – the individuals that continue to ensure the Liverpool City Region remains the ‘Hollywood of The North!’
TEAMING UP WITH THE FILM + TV CHARITY
We’re proud to team up with the Film & TV Charity along with our Screen Alliance North partners, Screen Manchester, Screen Yorkshire and Northeast Screen. A charity dedicated to supporting everyone working behind the scenes in film, TV and cinema, they offer a 24/7 confidential support line, legal and financial guidance, stop-gap grants, a bullying advice service, and free counselling.
2025 RTS North West Nominees
As the Royal Television Society announces its shortlist of nominees within the North West, we particularly want to congratulate nominated productions who worked with the Liverpool Film Office and the Liverpool City Region to achieve their vision:
Funded:
TCIO – BEST AUDIO POST PRODUCTION, THE CAROLINE AHERNE AWARD FOR BEST BREAKTHROUGH TALENT (James Nelson Joyce), BEST DRAMA, BEST PERFORMANCE IN A DRAMA (James Nelson Joyce), BEST SCRIPT WRITER (Stephen Butchard)
GWED 2 – BEST COMEDY PROGRAMME, BEST PERFORMANCE IN A COMEDY (Gemma Barraclough)
Filmed in LCR:
Merseyside Detectives – BEST AUDIO POST PRODUCTION, BEST FACTUAL SERIES
Hollyoaks – BEST DIGITAL CREATIVITY, BEST PERFORMANCE IN A CONTINUING DRAMA (Ashley Taylor Dawson & Isabelle Smith)
Goodbye To Goodison – BEST SINGLE DOCUMENTARY
Stolen Girl – BEST DRAMA, BEST PERFORMANCE IN A DRAMA (Ambika Mod & Holliday Grainger)
Missing You – BEST DRAMA, BEST PERFORMANCE IN A DRAMA (Rosalind Eleazar), BEST SCRIPT WRITER (Victoria Asare-Archer), BEST VISUAL POST PRODUCTION
The Voice UK Series 13 – BEST ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMME
Paddy: The Ride of My Life – BEST SINGLE DOCUMENTARY
View the full shortlist here:
House of Guinness’ Debut | Filmed in Liverpool
Steven Knight’s return to Liverpool transformed locations across the region into 1860’s Dublin, with Stanley Dock becoming the backdrop for the iconic Guinness Factory. The show became an instant smash hit upon release last week, backed by plenty of rave reviews and is a real celebration of what the LCR has to offer – from stunning locations across the region like the Stanley Dock, Croxteth Hall, St George’s Hall and the Sefton Park Palm House- to talented cast, with Emily Fairn (The Responder) taking a leading role.
Dive into all the locations the production filmed in by checking out VisitLiverpool.com‘s latest blog post below
DRAGON POST PRODUCTION OPENS ITS DOORS TO LFO
We’ve recently had the pleasure of visiting Dragon Post Production at the brand-new Hardman Studios next to Hope Street right in the heart of the city centre.
SCREEN ALLIANCE NORTH: YEAR 2 IN REVIEW
We are extremely proud to unveil the results from another stellar year partnered with North East Screen, Screen Manchester and Screen Yorkshire under ‘Screen Alliance North’. Since April 2023, we’ve been working with the other northern screen agencies to tackle skills shortages and improve access to quality training provision for diverse talent and communities in our region.
Film Friendly Neighbourhood Scheme announced – bringing improvements to Falkner Square area
Two new accessible chess tables, along with new signage, bins and a community noticeboard in the Falkner Square area of the Georgian Quarter comes as part of our new ‘Film Friendly Neighbourhood’ scheme, an initiative launched so the city’s thriving film and TV sector can have a positive impact on local communities most impacted by production.
Netflix announces new drama ‘House of Guinness’ – filmed across Liverpool City Region
Netflix have announced the official release date of Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight’s new drama ‘House of Guinness’ – with all 8 episodes coming to your screens on 25th September.
BBC announces second series of hit crime drama This City is Ours
The BBC has announced that This City is Ours, the critically-lauded breakout hit crime drama, will return to BBC iPlayer and BBC One for a second series.
New drama Waiting For The Out begins filming in Liverpool City Region
A new six-part series called Waiting For The Out, based on Andy West’s memoir The Life Inside, has begun filming in the Liverpool City Region, supported by the Film Office.
Screen Alliance North launches industry wide working group to improve sustainability across productions in the North
The northern screen industry skills cluster, thanks to support from the BFI, awarding National Lottery funding, is working closely with sustainability consultants Picture Zero to establish a new Sustainability Working Group.