WIRRAL has become a popular destination for TV crews, with some huge award-winning shows being shot in and around the borough.
Here is a look at 10 TV shows that were spotted filming in various locations around Wirral in 2023.
The Gathering
In September, Channel 4's new six-part drama, The Gathering, was spotted filming in Wirral.
Set on Merseyside, The Gathering will centre around an attack on a teenage girl during a rave on a small island.
It will follow a group of teens who could have committed the crime, along with their parents, who each give a cause for suspicion.
Residents spotted film crew at Red Rocks in Hoylake, and on King's Drive in Caldy.
Sexy Beast
Sexy Beast were spotted filming outside St Thomas' Church on School Lane in Parkgate in January 2023 and also filmed in Birkenhead.
The prequel series, based on the 2000 British crime film, stars James McArdle (Mare of Easttown, Angels in America), Emun Elliott (The Rig, The Gold), Tamsin Greig (Episodes, Friday Night Dinner), Stephen Moyer (Shots Fired, True Blood) and Sarah Greene (Bad Sisters, Normal People) and will be available to watch on Paramount+ from January 25 2024.
The series will explore the origins of Gal and Don’s complicated relationship as they find themselves descending into the seductive madness of the London criminal world during the vibrant and volatile 1990s, while Gal’s budding relationship with DeeDee threatens everything in their world.
The Responder
In September, TV and film star Martin Freeman was spotted filming for the new series of the hit BBC drama The Responder in Wallasey.
Residents in Wirral spotted film crew and Freeman shooting the drama on Mill Lane.
The hugely successful first series was written by ex-Merseyside Police officer Tony Schumacher and stars Freeman as police officer Chris Carson.
The 52-year-old actor is famed for his roles as Tim in The Office, Dr John Watson in Sherlock and Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit.
Time
Jimmy McGovern’s second series of Time was filmed in Wirral, at locations such as Arrowe Park Hospital, as well as other Merseyside locations.
The 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.
Jodie Whittaker (Doctor Who, Broadchurch), Tamara Lawrance (The Silent Twins, The Long Song) and Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us, His Dark Materials) will star in the lead roles.
You can watch the series now on BBC IPlayer.
Brave Girls
BBC Three series, Such Brave Girls, headed to screens on Wednesday, November 22 after being filmed earlier in the year.
The six-part sitcom was filmed across Wirral, at locations such as Linghams Bookshop in Heswall, and Knowsley, facilitated by the Liverpool Film Office.
Written, created and starring Kat Sadler, the series is directed by Simon Bird and produced by Catherine Gosling Fuller.
It follows sisters Josie, played by Kat and Billie (played by Kat’s real-life sister, Lizzie Davidson) and their single mother Deb (Louise Brealey) navigating life armed with nothing but poor judgement and self-esteem exclusively tied to people who couldn’t care less about them.
Protection
ITV revealed further details about an upcoming thriller, Protection, which is currently being partly filmed in Birkenhead.
The six-part series has been filming across the Liverpool City Region, facilitated by the Liverpool Film Office.
Produced by New Pictures (Des, The Missing) and written by acclaimed screenwriter Kris Mrksa, Siobhan Finneran (Happy Valley, Time) will star as DI Liz Nyles.
The series will air on ITV and ITVX this year.
Andy and the Band
Cast and crew from a children's series on CBBC were spotted filming in New Brighton in June.
Andy and the Band, starring BAFTA-nominated presenter and actor Andrew Day, is a hit comedy-drama series on the channel.
In every episode, Andy and his musical mates, known as the Odd Socks, embark on a mission or ‘odd job’ which involves them helping one of their fans.
20 fun-filled episodes were released in November and are available to watch now.
The Tower II
The Tower II: Death Message, filmed during summer 2022, features locations such as Liscard Road in Wallasey, The Heath Business and Technical Park in Runcorn, Rodney Street in Liverpool, Allerton Towers, Bootle Strand plus many more.
Based on Kate London’s second crime novel Death Message, the series has been adapted by screenwriter Patrick Harbinson (Homeland) and will see Gemma Whelan (Game of Thrones) as DS Sarah Collins and Jimmy Akingbola (Kate & Koji) as DC Steve Bradshaw returning in their starring roles in the acclaimed crime drama.
The Tower II: Death Message aired on ITV 1 and ITVX on August 28 2023.
Henpocolypse!
The team behind Henpocalypse! used the former Pensby High School for Boys as their base, building a set within the space.
Facilitated and supported by the Liverpool Film Office, the production company Various Artists Ltd production also filmed at several locations including Heswall – notably Dawstone Park – Birkenhead and Woodchurch.
Starring Elizabeth Berrington - who appeared in The Responder and The Pact - as the mother of the bride Bernadette and Lucie Shorthouse as demanding bride Zara, the series is centred around a hen-do which is interrupted by the apocalypse.
Henpocalypse! was released on Tuesday, August 15 on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer. The whole series is now available on BBC iPlayer.
G'Wed
G'Wed was filmed across Wirral, Liverpool and Sefton over the summer months and features an "exciting cast of young talent alongside established actors".
Written by Danny Kenny, from Wallasey, and produced by Golden Path Productions Ltd, the six-part series is an uplifting, heart-warming and hilarious portrayal of teenagers today and how they view the world.
The new six-part comedy G’wed will premiere on ITVX in 2024.
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