The Bottle Yard plays host to new BBC One drama ‘Frankie’
The Bottle Yard, Bristol’s largest film and tv studio complex, is eagerly awaiting the release of ‘Frankie’, the new BBC One drama, at 9pm on Tuesday 14 May 2013, after playing host to the production last year.
Created and written by Lucy Gannon (The Best of Men, Soldier Soldier) and produced by BBC Drama Production for BBC One, this heart-warming, funny and ultimately life-affirming series is set in the challenging and complex world of district nursing. Eve Myles plays the title role and is joined by Dean Lennox Kelly (Shameless, Married Single Other) as Frankie’s long term boyfriend Ian, and Derek Riddell (Five Days, Garrow’s Law), as her confidante and team member Andy.
Filmed in Bristol last Autumn, The Bottle Yard became home to the production team for four months, who used its offices and built sets on-site. Producer, Erika Hossington, says: “It’s been brilliant to be part of a building where there were teams making other productions as well as us. To feel like you are part of a like-minded community is really important and we all felt like we were in a proper production hub.”
Fiona Francombe, Site Manager at The Bottle Yard says: “Having the ‘Frankie’ team on-site at The Bottle Yard was the icing on the cake after a really busy year for us. Meeting old faces from the industry again is always nice, but having the opportunity to introduce The Bottle Yard to a new producer is a big bonus. Their use of local locations in the South Bristol area proves the benefit of having a facility like this for the local community and economy. We’re keeping our fingers crossed for a commission for series 2.”
Set in Bristol with various story lines unfolding across the city, ‘Frankie’ promises to showcase Bristol’s diversity. Berenice Ray, Film Officer at Bristol Film Office (who supported the production on location) explains: “People are always surprised to learn just how many productions are filmed in Bristol every year, as the city’s versatile locations attract a high number of productions which are set in other locations across the globe. Last year alone Bristol doubled for Cornwall in feature film ‘The Fold’; Brighton in Channel 4 drama ‘The Fear’; modern-day London locations for ‘Sherlock’ and Victorian London for the ‘Doctor Who’ Christmas special!”
It’s not just Bristol that’s benefiting from the recent boom in drama production, councils and Film Offices across the West of England have been busy supporting productions such as Sky’s ‘The Cafe’, soon-to-be-released feature film ‘Mariah Mundi and the Midas Box’ and recent ratings-hit ITV drama ‘Broadchurch’, which have made the most of the locations, skilled crew and facilities on offer in the region.