As part of VisitBritain’s #StarringGREATBritain campaign, which celebrates the UK’s rich heritage as a filming location and destination for screen tourism, we’re proud to showcase how the Wakefield district has starred in numerous productions over the years. If you’ve read our Watch the District guide, you’ll already know that from cinematic classics like Richard Harris’ This Sporting Life to David Jason’s rough-and-ready detective “Jack” Frost in A Touch of Frost, our district has provided dramatic backdrops for an impressive range of films and TV shows.
Whether you’re an international visitor inspired by British film and TV or a local looking to spot familiar places on screen, our Starring Wakefield guide will show you where to explore these locations and how to watch these fantastic titles. Now, where’s the popcorn?
TV Series | 2025 | 1 hour | 1 season | 4 episodes | Rated 15
What: With each episode filmed as a continuous shot, the story of a family upended by murder accusations unfurls. When a 13-year-old boy is arrested and accused of murdering one of his classmates, his family must search for answers. Starring Stephen Graham, Owen Cooper and Ashley Walters.
Where in the district: Minsthorpe Community College in South Elmsall and Production Park in South Kirkby.
Film | 1996 | 1 hour 49 minutes | Rated 15
What: In a village in Northern England, Danny, the conductor of a colliery brass band, has difficulty maintaining the morale of his musicians when the economic future of the area is threatened by the possibility that the local coal mine will be closed. When a former resident, Gloria, returns to assess the mine, she get involved with her former flame, Andy, and also the band, joining them in their last hurrah at a national competition. Starring Ewan McGregor, Pete Postlethwaite and Tara Fitzgerald.
Where in the district: The showers at the National Coal Mining Museum.
Film | 2011 | 1 hour 28 minutes | Rated 18
What: Widower Joseph is consumed by his volatile temper and anger. He meets Hannah, a Christian worker at a charity shop. When they’re brought together she seems to be his saviour, someone who can temper his fury and offer him kindness. But Hannah’s secrets are revealed with devastating results on both their lives. Starring Olivia Colman, Paul Mullan and Eddie Marsan.
Where in the district: Residential areas of Wakefield.
Film | 2016 | 1 hour 33 minutes | Rated PG
What: Four children holidaying in the Lake District sail over to a nearby island in their boat Swallow to camp for a few days. However, they soon realise that they have encroached on the territory of the Blackett sisters aka the Amazons. Starring Kelly Macdonald, Andrew Scott and Rafe Spall.
Where in the district: Wintersett Reservoir.
Film | 2023 | 1 hour 31 minutes | Rated 15
What: Adam works nightshifts at a motorway service station and lives a small and lonely life. Upon hearing that his estranged father has died, he finds himself in search of answers. Piecing together a complicated image of a man he never knew, Adam starts to become convinced he descends from an alien race. Starring Faraz Ayub, Natalie Gavin and Claire Rushbrook.
Where in the district: The Ridings Shopping Centre.
Film | 2022 | 1 hour 35 minutes | Rated 12
What: When the geriatric ward in a small Yorkshire hospital is threatened with closure, it fights back by galvanizing the local community. The hospital invites a news crew to film the preparations for a concert honouring its most distinguished nurse. Starring Jennifer Saunders, Judi Dench and David Bradley.
Where in the district: Thornes Park, Clarence Park, and Sandal Castle.
Film | 2012 | 1 hour 26 minutes | Rated 15
What: The year is 1974 and the Maynard family has moved into their dream home. They soon discover that the house is already inhabited by a poltergeist. The attacks on the family are getting worse and the spirit must be driven out with exorcism. Starring Martin Compston, Kate Ashfield and Craig Parkinson.
Where in the district: Filmed and set in the house where the real haunting is alleged to have happened – 30 East Drive.
TV Series | 2008 | 45 minutes | 1 seasons | 41 episodes | Rated 12
What: Amanda, an ardent Jane Austen fan, lives in present day London with her boyfriend Michael, until she finds she’s swapped places with Austen’s fictional creation Elizabeth Bennet. Starring Gemma Arterton, Jemima Rooper and Alex Kingston.
Where in the district: Kindred Spirit, The Counting House and the former Yorkshire Bank on Northgate in Wakefield.
Film | 2016 | 1 hour 49 minutes | Rated 15
What: Victorian London is terrorised by an unknown serial killer – the Limehouse Golem – who leaves cryptic messages with the victim’s blood. When the killings increase, Scotland Yard assigns the case to a famous inspector. Starring Bill Nighy, Olivia Cooke and Douglas Booth.
Where in the district: Wakefield Town Hall.
TV Series | 2009 | 1 hour 33 minutes – 1 hour 45 minutes| 1 season | 3 episodes | Rated 15 – 18
What: The Red Riding Trilogy is a series of three interconnected British crime films set in Yorkshire across 1974, 1980, and 1983. The films follow different protagonists—a journalist, a police officer, and a solicitor—as they investigate various crimes that ultimately reveal a vast conspiracy of police corruption and serial killings. Starring Sean Bean, Maxine Peake and Andrew Garfield
Where in the district: Ferrybridge Power Station.
And keep your eyes peeled this Christmas (2025) as Hollywood comes to Wakefield! Sky have filmed their big new Christmas movie Tinsel Town right here in our very own Theatre Royal Wakefield.
Starring Kiefer Sutherland and Rebel Wilson, Tinsel Town tells the story of a washed-up Hollywood action hero who takes a role in a small English village’s quirky Christmas pantomime, where he finds unexpected inspiration through the show’s straight-talking dance instructor.
Watch Wakefield on the silver screen with our guide to some of the best TV shows and films that have been filmed in the area.
Discover the magic of West Yorkshire as we delve into places filmed across the region that have captivated audiences worldwide.
Discover, or rediscover, what makes Wakefield such an incredible destination with our top 11 best attractions.
Enjoy a series of self-led walks around Wakefield illustrating some of our fascinating and rich heritage.
