News reports located on this page = 2.

A 'reel-y' record breaking year for filming in Liverpool

LATEST figures show that, once again, it has been a bumper year for filming across the Liverpool City Region, with 324 different film and TV projects filming here, racking up an impressive 1,750 production days; 363 more days than 2018. As a result, ₤17.6 million has been brought in to the local economy; an increase of ₤1.5m in 2018.

Liverpool Film Office Manager, Lynn Saunders, said:- "What a way to celebrate our 30th Anniversary with yet another record breaking year! It has been an incredibly busy 2019 for the Film Office team; enquiries have increased tenfold and production levels across the entire Liverpool City Region are booming. Interestingly, there has been a very small drop in the number of productions coming to Liverpool; 22 fewer than in 2018; however, we are attracting an increasing number of high end dramas which spend more time filming here, which is not only an invaluable economic boost but also benefits us reputational within the industry. Looking ahead to 2020, we want to focus on developing and championing local production talent an create opportunities for them when productions head to the Region. There are already some big projects in the pipeline so it looks like 2020 is going to be an action packed year for the Film Office."

There has been an increasing trend in the number of high-end TV dramas coming to the City, so thanks to the likes of Sky Atlantic's Tin Star, Netflix's The Crown and The English Game, and BBC productions World on Fire and Years and Years, the Region has seen a 12% climb; the most filmed here since records began.

Other productions filmed in the Region in 2019 include:- Amazon Prime's The Feed, Sky One's COBRA, Netflix's Irregulars and BBC One's Moving On. As a result, Merseyside has been a temporary home to stars including Tim Roth, Ian Hart, Robert Carlyle, Russell Tovey and Genevieve O'Reilly.

Executive Producer for Tin Star, Alison Jackson said:- "Filming in Liverpool has been a fantastic experience, the location has been pivotal for our characters who return to face their troubled past in an all new and surprising environment for the viewer. Liverpool City Region provided us with a wealth of cinematic locations, and the support we received from Liverpool Film Office and the people of this City has been instrumental in creating our explosive 3rd series."

Liverpool has also once again been a double for locations across the world, including:- New York in Das Boot, Madrid in Years and Years, London for Irregulars and Wales in The Snow Spider. Familiar shows such as:- The 1 Show, The Greatest Dancer, The Real Housewives of Cheshire, Britain's Got Talent, X Factor All Stars and The Voice have also filmed here in 2019.

Latest figures also show local productions are also on the up, by an impressive 26%.

2019 saw the creation of the Liverpool City Region Production Fund; the 1st Local Authority supported fund of its kind in the UK for more than 6 years; which will attract more productions to the Region, create jobs and boost the local economy. To date, more than 48 expressions of interest have been received, with CBBC's The Snow Spider being the 1st to receive support from the fund.

Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member responsible for Liverpool Film Office, Councillor Wendy Simon, said:- "This has been a year of unprecedented success for the Film Office and I'd like to congratulate the small team who go above and beyond to attract Directors and production companies to the City Region. Their work, alongside the enviable locations on offer and the film friendliness attitude, makes the 5 Merseyside boroughs an attractive place to film and keeps Directors returning time and time again. We can safely say Liverpool is maintaining its crown as 1 of the most filmed Cities outside of London."

Announcements around further projects which will receive funding will be announced in 2020.

Mayor's message of support to City's EU citizens

MAYOR of Liverpool Joe Anderson is writing to EU citizens in the City to assure them their contribution to life in Liverpool is:- "deeply valued."  The letter, which is being sent to more than 5,300 EU citizens who are on the open electoral register, urges them to apply to the EU settlement scheme (EUSS) which is open to people from other countries in the EU27 and people from:- Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Mayor Anderson writes:- "Liverpool has always been an international City and we are 1 of the UK's most diverse communities. In particular, we are fiercely proud of our long relationship with Europe, through sport, culture and business. From Scandinavian seafarers bringing us Scouse in the eighteenth century to the Greeks and Italians who made Liverpool their home in the nineteenth, our bonds with Europe are longstanding and strong. And in more recent years, we are also proud that so many EU citizens have chosen to become part of Liverpool's story. They make our City a better place, opening our eyes to the world when they become our colleagues, neighbours and friends. Please rest assured that we want our European Scousers to remain in Liverpool. We value what you bring to our City and know that we are all the richer for it."

The deadlines for applying to the EUSS are 31 December 2020 if the UK leaves the EU without a deal and 30 June 2021 if there is deal. If successful, people are granted settled or pre-settled status. There is no fee to apply and most people are able to complete the application quickly online.

Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said:- "Liverpool has been an international City, with people of many different nationalities making it their home over hundreds of years. Although we are set to leave the EU, we want the citizens who have come here from elsewhere on the continent to be assured that their contribution to life in the City is appreciated and they are an integral part of what makes Liverpool unique. They not only contribute to keeping many of our essential services such as the NHS and social care but also enrich the life and culture of the City. It is why I am determined to make sure that we make sure they feel valued, and understand that Liverpool wants them and their families to stay, no matter how inflammatory the national political rhetoric around Brexit becomes."

Until the end of September, 10,770 of Liverpool's EU citizens had applied to the EUSS. People wanting to sign up to the EU settlement scheme can find out more at:- Gov.UK/BREXIT. If people need advice with their application there is also support available from Citizens Advice and Migrant Help. Up to date information can be found on the Liverpool Council's website:- Liverpool.Gov.UK/BREXIT.