Fame at Last

In recent years, Ancoats and Miles Platting have had a lot of exposure on national television. Programme makers seem to like our areas for their dramas. Common as Muck seemed to start the trend. This was a comedy about dustbin men. It was a really good series, starring Edward Woodward.

One morning I was passing what used to be known as ‘Tripe Colony’. It was derelict at the time, but still awaiting demolition. I noticed lots of cars, vans and a coach parked up. Being of a somewhat curious nature, I decided to investigate. As I got near to Helston Street, I noticed a catering van. I realised all these vehicles must be for some sort of filming. (I’m also quite quick on the uptake)

Just as I was having a good nosy, a well dressed man approached me and asked, “Can I help you?” Feeling a little self conscious I stammered “Nnno thank you. I was just wondering what was going on.” The man replied helpfully (with his lovely deep voice which sounded strangely familiar) “We are filming a comedy for the BBC. It is about dustmen”.

“Ohhh righight”, I answered “I just wondered, that’s all”.

I turned and walked away still feeling self conscious, thinking to myself, ‘I must watch out for that series’.

About three weeks before the series was shown on T.V. there was the usual round of appearances, by the actors from the series, on the morning programmes. I was flabbergasted to see the well dressed man I had spoken to, but even more flabbergasted to realise I hadn’t recognised the great actor Edward Woodward!!!

Band of Gold was also filmed in Manchester and a large part of it in Ancoats. This was a drama about prostitutes starring Kathy Tyson. It was also a very good series and even though the subject matter was quite heavy, it had lots of comedy in it to lighten it up.

City Central is another programme filmed in Manchester. This is a police drama series. Most of the filming was done in Miles Platting and Ancoats. In the first series one of the main characters has a flat in Victoria Mill, so our base is becoming even more famous than it was already! The second series of City Central also had a lot of filming in Miles Platting and Ancoats, and one day the action was just behind my house. The cars, vans and lorries arrived, people piled out of them and surrounded a manhole in the street. I was on my way to the shops and wondered what was going on. Still being of a curious nature (My earlier embarrassment hadn’t taught me anything!) I decided to ask the nearest person. This was a lady, unloading a car boot of cables. Boldly I approached her and said, “Hello, I’m just being nosy. What’s going on?” (Truthfulness and directness, always the best policy)

The lady looked slightly bemused but replied helpfully, “Oh, we are doing a programme for the BBC. It’s a series called “City Central” I smiled and said, ”City Central! Yes I like that. I watched the last series.” The lady told me, “The bit of storyline we are filming today is, one of the female police officers has fallen down the manhole! The poor cameraman is going to be cold and wet down there today!” (It was already raining quite heavily)

I thanked the lady for the information and continued on my way. Later I saw a little of the scene being filmed, where another police officer finds the girl down the manhole. He shouted, “Yeah, she’s here!” Then shouting down the hole, “Sue, Sue.” I would have liked to have watched all morning but as usual I couldn’t spare the time.

A couple of hours later the crew packed up and moved on but left a couple of cameras and lights set up. They left a guard to watch over them. After dark they came back supposedly to recover the trapped officer. Once again I was on my way out, so I couldn’t afford the time to stand and watch for long, but I did see the police cars, an ambulance and the girl lay on a stretcher. I also noticed the lady I had spoken to earlier was the one who says, “Standby, start rolling”, and “Action.”

The third series is in the process of being filmed and once again Victoria Mill has been used for a shoot (See, I’m even picking up the lingo now!) Unfortunately, I’m ashamed to say, I missed reading the notices informing people who use the building that filming was to take place. So I missed the opportunity to take photos or interview any of the stars. Sorry!

Not-So-Nosy-Nellie.

photo, courtesy of the BBC