Film Office announces funding boost for second series of BBC hit Time

The second series of Jimmy McGovern’s multi-award-winning hit drama Time has received investment from Liverpool Film Office through the Liverpool City Region (LCR) Production Fund.

The announcement follows the BBC’s release of first-look image of Jodie Whittaker (Doctor Who, Broadchurch), Tamara Lawrance (The Silent Twins, The Long Song) and Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us, His Dark Materials) in the lead roles.

Currently filming across Liverpool, Halton, St Helens, Wirral and Knowsley, the new three-part series is a moving and high-stakes portrayal of life inside a women’s prison, told through the lens of three very different inmates who are thrown together to face an unfamiliar world.

The Fund also supported the first series of Time starring Sean Bean and Stephen Graham, which was both a critical and ratings hit in the UK and went on to secure two BAFTA TV awards including Best Mini-Series in 2022.

Co-written by McGovern and Helen Black (Life and Death in the Warehouse), the second series is produced and distributed internationally by BBC Studios for BBC One and iPlayer (as well as Britbox North America) and is directed by Andrea Harkin (The Confessions of Frannie Langton, The Trial Of Christine Keeler).

Managed by the Liverpool Film Office, the LCR Production Fund was launched to increase the number, range and scale of productions made in the city region and is supported by £3 million from the Combined Authority through Mayor Steve Rotheram’s Strategic Investment Fund.

So far, the Fund has made eight investments including primetime dramas such as BAFTA Award winning Help, BAFTA nominated The Responder and The Ipcress File, with another two to three expected over the remainder of 2023.

Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Councillor Harry Doyle said:

“Thanks to the universal acclaim the first instalment of this drama received, there is a huge amount of anticipation around Time 2 which has once again received vital support from Liverpool Film Office.

“Even though it’s a common occurrence to have camera crews on our streets pretty much every day of the year, it’s still a thrill to see the city region on the big and small screen, providing stunning backdrops for so many exciting productions.

“The Production Fund has been a huge success story for the city region and as well as helping to create award-winning dramas, it has supported local talent, created jobs, improved skills and had a positive economic impact across the city. And with Scouse legend Jimmy McGovern involved once again in Time, this is sure to be yet another success for the Fund.”

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:

“Investments like this one demonstrate the depth of our region’s ambition to stake our claim as the UK’s premier filming location outside of London.

“Through my LCR Production Fund, we are helping to support incredible productions like Time, The Responder and Help – which in return have helped us to generate millions of pounds in spending for our economy.

“I have no doubt that our region has all the capabilities, facilities and skills to become the ‘Hollywood of the North’ and attract the thousands of well-paid jobs and training opportunities that it will bring to our area.”

Head of Liverpool Film Office and Fund Manager, Lynn Saunders said:

“This latest boost for the production fund is fantastic news for the Liverpool City Region especially following on from the award-winning success of the first series of Time.

“By providing investment to productions, we are having a huge positive impact on the region with over £6 for every £1 of investment being directly spent in the local economy.

“The Fund also provides opportunities for local crew with over 34 trainees and 402 FTE jobs being supported to date through projects such as this.

“With the addition of The Depot and our expanding Liverpool Film Office team we are now drawing more productions than ever before into the region, allowing us to offer a real wraparound service to those coming to our area to create showstopping television and film.

“I am really excited to see what is to come with the second series of Time and know that we will be seeing even more award nominations to come.”