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Liverpool set for drama double on super Sunday!
Photograph by Mammoth Screen, Ben Blackall.

ON Sunday, 17 November 2019, The War of the Worlds launched on BBC1 and the highly anticipated 3rd season of The Crown will be released on Netflix, with key scenes in both productions being shot within the Liverpool City Region. The War of the Worlds adaptation keeps to the story's original Edwardian England setting, so locations included inside and outside:- St George's Hall, Croxteth Hall, Sefton Park Palm House, Martins Bank Building on Water Street and Eldon Grove in Vauxhall.  Pivotal scenes were also filmed at Ainsdale woods and Formby Beach; the woods becoming an 'impact zone' for the Martian arrival. Both locations are on the screen throughout episodes 1 and 2. A disused warehouse in Wirral also became a fully functional studio space where an alien landscape was created. Filming took place over 9 weeks, with a cast and crew of around 100 making the City Region their temporary home.

The War of the Worlds writer, Peter Harness, said:- "We filmed in Liverpool because it's the greatest City in the universe! Liverpool has locations that are pristine, it offered the landscapes we needed and also had the crews up there; and people are extremely supportive of what we were trying to achieve."

Liverpool Film Office worked in partnership with The War of the Worlds production company, Mammoth Screen, to source the locations, ensure road closures were in place and hire crew. The 3 part alien mini series has been written by Peter Harness (Wallander and Case Histories) and stars Eleanor Tomlinson (Poldark), Rafe Spall (Black Mirror) and Robert Carlyle (Trainspotting). It was directed by the award winning Crag Viveiros (And Then There Were None). Elements of the post production process were undertaken by LA Productions, based in Kirkdale.

The War of the Worlds director, Craig Viveiros, said:- "Liverpool was great when it came to its architecture and the ability to close it off to dress it and shoot it. Locations like St George's Hall, Formby Beach, Croxteth Hall allowed us to film there and are key scenes in the production."

For 3  days, the City doubled as Washington DC, for The Crown. Filming took place in and around the City Centre including near the 3  Graces, on North John Street and on the waterfront. Liverpool's starring TV role, comes just a week after Liverpool Film Office announced that BBC family adventure series The Snow Spider is the 1st production to receive support from the Liverpool City Region Production Fund. The fund is aimed at attracting small and large filming projects to the City Region, and as a result create more jobs, develop training initiatives and boost the local economy.

Manager of Liverpool Film Office, Lynn Saunders, said:- "Filming on the streets of the City Region is a regular occurrence and it's great when we can finally see the end product on television. There has been a real buzz around The War of the Worlds and we know that our locations take centre stage in the alien action. The large crew who made the Region their temporary home for 5 weeks will give an invaluable boost to the local economy, and hopefully the positive feedback from the production team will translate into more projects being filmed here in the future."

Christmas arrives at Liverpool ONE with huge street party!
Photographs by Gareth Jones, Liverpool ONE

THE festive season is officially underway at Liverpool ONE, following a huge street party filled with panto performances, live music and an enchanted train journey. Featuring the talents of more than 380 performers, from local choirs to celebrity panto favourites, ONE Big Street Party kicked off the Christmas season on Friday, 15 November 2019. 

Taking centre stage at Liverpool ONE this Christmas is the Polar Adventure, a magical land train experience on Chavasse Park, where passengers are treated to festive entertainment, hot chocolate and Christmas arts and crafts.  As well as the chance to be among the 1st to ride the Polar Adventure, party goers were also given a glimpse of what expect from Liverpool and Wirral's pantomimes this year.

Home grown talents, such as actress Claire Sweeney, comedienne Crissy Rock and former Emmerdale star Sammy Winward, took to the stage on South John Street to treat the crowd to a first look of their performances before the curtains go up in December 2019.

Adding to the festivities were a collection of local choirs performing a series of seasonal favourites on Sugar House Steps, including Liverpool Show Choir, Sing Me Merseyside, Pop Vox Choir and Kaboodle, while artists from Liverpool International Music Festival (LIMF) also showcased their talents throughout the evening.

Donna Howitt, Marketing Director at Liverpool ONE, said:- "We're extremely excited to have launched Christmas here at Liverpool ONE; this year promises to be one to remember, with a jam packed schedule of events and activities to keep visitors entertained throughout the season. Kicking it all off with a huge street party for everyone to enjoy was the perfect way to launch our festivities and we were treated to some fantastic performances from our panto stars and local musicians; they are a true testament to the city's unbelievable talents. Much loved favourites such as Bar Hutte; complete with festive 'carol-oke' also makes its return underneath the iconic, 30 metre tall Christmas tree on Paradise Street, offering live music and a tempting menu of festive cocktails Christmas in Liverpool goes from strength to strength each year and we're now looking forward to welcoming both new and returning visitors as the countdown to the big day itself gets underway."

To book tickets for the Polar Adventure, visit:- Liverpool-One.com. To find out more about what is happening across Liverpool this festive season visit:- VisitLiverpool.com.