Liverpool Film Office claims a new BBC TV drama starring movie star Sean Bean has generated £9m for the city region economy. Tony McDonough reports

A new BBC TV drama starring Sean Bean which is due to be broadcast this week has generated a reported £9m for Liverpool city region.

Left Bank Pictures has produced This City Is Ours which also features Julie Graham, James Nelson-Joyce, Michael Kavanagh and Jack McMullen, which is set to go out on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Sunday, Marc 23.

Its film crew spent 17 weeks filming at multiple city region locations last year. The production secured financial backing from Liverpool City Council’s Film Office via Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s £3m LCR Production Fund.

Head of Liverpool Film Office and fund manager, Lynn Saunders said: “This City Is Ours is a fantastic example of how the LCR Production Fund has worked to not only draw in production but bring great benefit to the local economy.

“The project has reported a total spend for the region at just under £9m which equates to just under £20 for each £1 spent of the fund’s investment – which is an outstanding achievement.

“With a gripping script from creator and local writer Stephen Butchard and championing our homegrown talent, there’s certainly a special buzz around this project and we can’t wait to see how it plays out on the screen.”

According to the Film Office, this production generated and safeguarded 300 direct, indirect and induced full-time equivalent jobs for local people. It also supported 17 trainees as well as welcoming two apprentices from the Film Office.

READ MORE: Liverpool hotel to be made of shipping containers

READ MORE: Liverpool’s Epstein Theatre to reopen this year

Production assistant apprentice at Liverpool Film Office, Isobel Lewis, added: “During my placement on This City Is Ours I was mainly based in the production office, shadowing the team and finding out what the role entails.

“I also had the opportunity to visit the set and unit base which was great as I got to see what was going on each day. There was so much happening and it was fantastic to see how production teams came together to create the final project.”

The fund was launched by Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram in 2019, supported by £3m from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and is facilitated and operated by Liverpool Film Office.

Over the last five years, Liverpool Film Office has been responsible for bringing 1,564 film and TV productions to Liverpool city region, which has resulted in 5,279 direct/FTE jobs being created within the industry, generating an estimated £168m of investment.