Annual figures released today by Bristol Film Office show that film and TV production in the city generated an estimated £20.8 million in 2021-22, a 22% increase on pre-pandemic figures and the largest contribution that filming-related activity has made towards Bristol’s economy in a decade.
Am I Being Unreasonable?, The Outlaws, Chloe, Showtrial and The Girl Before are just some of the screen hits made in Bristol which contributed towards a total revenue of £20,857,000* in the 2021/22 financial year, a £3.8 million (22%) increase on the previous full 12-month total of £17 million recorded in 2019-20, before the pandemic.
The amount of filming that took place in the city was up by 10%, with 1,067 filming days carried out in the city at the Bristol City Council-owned Bottle Yard Studios and/or on location assisted by Bristol Film Office, the Council department that provides free support to productions working in the city. A total of 709 licenses were issued by Bristol Film Office, permitting filming to take place on Council-owned streets, properties and green spaces.
The 2021-22 figures are the first annual stats released by Bristol Film Office that illustrate an uninterrupted 12-month period of post-pandemic recovery for Bristol film and TV production. 2020-21’s annual total of £12.6 million was lower than preceding years, due to the threemonth pause in production enforced in the first COVID-19 lockdown.
Filmed at The Bottle Yard Studios and on location in the city in 2021-22 (clockwise from top left): The Outlaws series two (BBC One/Amazon Prime Video); Showtrial (BBC One) The Girl Before (BBC One/HBO Max); Chloe (BBC One/Amazon Prime Video)
Senior Film Manager Laura Aviles (Bristol City Council), who oversees Bristol Film Office and The Bottle Yard Studios, says: “These figures paint an extremely healthy picture for Bristol’s thriving film and TV sector. £20.8 million is the highest economic contribution generated by film and High-End TV production that we’ve seen in a decade, since the BBC took the decision to move Casualty’s production to Cardiff in 2011.
“The numbers were no surprise to our Film Office and Bottle Yard staff. We knew that production had kicked back into gear quickly after the production pause during the first lockdown in 2020. Since then, our teams have been busier than ever supporting productions on the ground.
“The skilled crew, companies and facilities we work alongside, all play a vital role in making Bristol one of the most film-friendly cities in the UK. With The Bottle Yard’s new TBY2 facility opening this Autumn, Bristol’s capacity for production is increasing significantly and we look forward to supporting more titles in the year ahead.”
Councillor Craig Cheney, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet member for Finance, Governance and Performance, says: “Bristol’s film and TV sector is a valuable contributor not only to the city’s fiscal economy but to our social economy too. Despite the industry continuing to recover to its full strength post-pandemic, it’s clear to see the value brought to Bristol through the hundreds of productions supported this year. I’m delighted to see the sector continue to go from strength to strength and applaud the continued efforts of the Bristol Film Office and The Bottle Yard Studios in supporting this sector growth and continuing to meet our ambitions as a UNESCO City of Film.”
Shane Allen, Executive Producer of new BBC One comedy thriller Am I Being Unreasonable? (pictured above) which launched on BBC One on Friday (23 September), says: “Bristol proved a terrific choice for many practical reasons and in giving the show its identity. Aside from the well-run Bottle Yard base, there is a wealthy array of city and rural location options within a relatively short radius. There’s something of the soul of the West Country in Am I Being Unreasonable? which was creatively important to co-creator and co-writer Daisy May Cooper. Bristol is a very film friendly place, from cityscapes to bucolic beauty nearby, its versatility is impressive. Bristol is fast becoming the destination for shows and films with its advanced production infrastructure, experienced crews and superb locations.
Filmed on location with assistance from Bristol Film Office in 2021-22 (clockwise from top left): Sanditon (BritBox UK/Masterpiece); The Undeclared War (Channel 4/Peacock); The Lazarus project (Sky Max); The Long Call (ITV)
Other scripted titles filmed in 2021-22 at The Bottle Yard Studios and on location in the city with assistance from Bristol Film Office, included: season two of Stephen Merchant’s comedy thriller The Outlaws (BBC/Amazon Prime Video), thriller The Girl Before (BBC One/HBO Max); legal drama Showtrial (BBC One); psychological thriller Chloe (BBC One/Amazon Prime); season three of detective drama McDonald & Dodds (ITV); period drama Becoming Elizabeth (STARZ); and series one of children’s drama The Beaker Girls (CBBC).
Titles yet to air include upcoming series Flatshare (Paramount+) starring Jessica Brown Findlay and Anthony Welsh and upcoming CBeebies show Andy’s Global Adventures presented by Andy Day.
Factual entertainment titles made at The Bottle Yard included ITV gameshow Tipping Point hosted by Ben Shepherd, CITV factual series HOW? fronted by Vick Hope, Sam Homewood and Frankie Vu, and Sky Kids series The Makery presented by Nim Odedra.
Period drama Sanditon was one of the biggest productions to film in the city in 2021/22. After its recommission following a successful campaign led by a loyal international fan base, series two and three based production at the Brabazon Hangars (the future home of YTL Arena Bristol) where Sanditon’s village sets were built. Series two aired earlier this year on Masterpiece and BritBox UK and is available now on ITV. Series three, which will feature scenes filmed at Bristol’s Georgian House, is expected to air next year.
Other titles assisted by Bristol Film Office included: Peter Kosminsky’s The Undeclared War(Channel 4/ Peacock) which built large scale anti-capitalist sets on Redcliffe Wharf, Sky Max thriller The Lazarus Project starring Paapa Essiedu, which transformed Bedminster’s East Street into a 1990’s strip of bookies and electronic store shopfronts; and upcoming Doctor Who special ‘The Power of The Doctor’.
For more information about Bristol Film Office, visit www.filmbristol.co.uk.
*Annual inward investment figures are calculated using national average production spend figures compiled by Creative England with contribution from all national Film Offices’ data.