Date: Thursday February 4, 2016

BRIDLINGTON BRACED FOR STARDOM DAD’S ARMY IN CINEMAS 5th FEBRUARY

Bridlington is expected to be THE place to be this year, as the community gets set for a surge in visitors following the release of Dad’s Army, in cinemas this Friday, 5th February.

The town has plans for a Dad’s Army Film Trail and bus tour to celebrate while Bridlington’s annual summer festival is expected to attract double its number of visitors this year.

Dad’s Army filmed on location in the region following investment from Screen Yorkshire through its Yorkshire Content Fund. The feature film brings together a stellar, award - winning British cast including Bill Nighy, Catherine Zeta Jones, Toby Jones,Tom Courtenay, Michael Gambon, Blake Harrison, Daniel Mays and Bill Paterson.

Screen Yorkshire and East Riding of Yorkshire Council hosted the regional premiere at The Spa in Bridlington last night, where much of the production was filmed, two days ahead of its general release nationwide. BAFTA nominated director , producer Damian Jones and Felicity Montagu, who plays Mrs Mainwaring, were all in attendance.

Sir Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “Bridlington will be the place to be in 2016. The filming of Dad’s Army in the town and surrounding areas is a money-can’t-buy opportunity to show the world what a stunning county Yorkshire is. We are certain that the impact on tourism and the economy will be tremendous and that the film will leave a lasting legacy for years to come.”

International screen tourists brought between £100 million-£140 million to the economy in 2014, with the most popular locations attracting up to £1.6million a year from international tourists, according to a survey by Creative England in association with VisitEngland and Olsberg SPI.

Hugo Heppell, Head of Investments at Screen Yorkshire said: “Screen Yorkshire is thrilled to have been instrumental in bringing Dad’s Army to Yorkshire – and for what Yorkshire could bring to Dad’s Army. We are very proud that a beloved institution has been so reverently brought to the screen and congratulate Damian, Olly and Hamish as well as the extraordinary cast.”

In Dad’s Army, Bridlington’s Old Town was transformed into the fictional Walmington-on-Sea while South Landing at Flamborough Head formed the backdrop for Walmington Beach.

Other locations used include Danes Dyke, Bempton, Sewerby Hall and East Riding Theatre in Beverley were all used as film locations alongside Scarborough, Leeds, North Yorkshire Moors Railway and Helmsley.

Councillor Stephen Parnaby OBE, leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “We all know what a beautiful place Bridlington is and movie-goers around the world will soon be seeing it in all its glory.

“East Riding of Yorkshire Council provided lots of support to the Dad’s Army production and crew and, as a film-friendly council, we hope this will lead to many more projects in the future to showcase our wonderful county.

“We are delighted that the production chose the East Riding for the filming locations and we hope this will lead to a big tourism boom for Bridlington and the rest of the East Riding."

Bridlington's Old Town Summer Festival will this year have a 1940s twist with performers, re-enactment groups, vintage and military vehicles all set to celebrate the Dad’s Army film on Sunday June 12. Organisers expect double the number of visitors this year thanks to the film.

Dad's Army is released in cinemas on Friday 5th February. Directed by BAFTA award-winning director Oliver Parker and written by Hamish McColl, the film brings together a stellar, award- winning British cast including Bill Nighy, Catherine Zeta Jones, Toby Jones,Tom Courtenay, Michael Gambon, Blake Harrison, Daniel Mays and Bill Paterson. Dad’s Army filmed on location in the region following investment from Screen Yorkshire through its Yorkshire Content Fund.

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Jo Francisco-Senior Press Officer Email:[email protected] Direct: 0113 3223578 Mobile: 07769257327

Marie Christopher – Senior Press Officer Email: [email protected] Direct Line: 0113 322 3537 Mobile: 07557 157 034

Dad’s Army Press Enquiries & Images: [email protected]

Screen Yorkshire Press Enquiries: Rachel McWatt - [email protected]

● Welcome to Yorkshire is the official destination management organisation for Yorkshire, working to grow the county’s visitor economy. ● Welcome to Yorkshire is a not-for-profit membership organisation, funded in part by grants, sponsorship and Welcome to Yorkshire members. All money raised is reinvested directly back into promoting Yorkshire. ● Key facts include: ● Tourism in Yorkshire is worth £7 billion annually ● The county’s industry employs almost a quarter of a million people Dad’s Army Dad’s Army’s all-star British cast includes Bill Nighy as Wilson (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Love Actually), Catherine Zeta Jones as Rose (Side Effects, Chicago, The Legend of Zorro), Toby Jones as Captain Mainwaring (The Hunger Games, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows), Tom Courtenay as Corporal Jones (Quartet), Michael Gambon as Godfrey (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, The King’s Speech), Blake Harrison as Pike (The Inbetweeners), Danny Mays as Walker (Atonement), Bill Paterson as Fraser (Miss Potter), Sarah Lancashire (Last Tango in Halifax, Lark Rise to Candleford), Alison Steadman (Gavin & Stacey) , Mark Gatiss (Sherlock, Doctor Who) and Annette Crosbie (What We Did on Our Holiday). They are joined by Felicity Montagu (Bridget Jones’s Diary, Alan Partridge), Julia Foster (Alfie), Holli Dempsey (Derek), Oliver Tobias (Arthur of the Britons) and Emily Atack (The Inbetweeners). Shooting commenced in October entirely on location in Yorkshire.

Directed by Oliver Parker ( Reborn, St Trinian’s, The Importance of Being Earnest) and written by Hamish McColl (Mr. Bean’s Holiday, Johnny English Reborn), the film is a International presentation of a DJ Films production, supported by Screen Yorkshire's Yorkshire Content Fund, in association with British Film Company, Worldwide Theatrix Ltd and Jimmy Perry Productions. Produced by Damian Jones, Dad’s Army has Jimmy Perry, Ann Croft, Penny Croft, Hugo Heppell, Steve Milne, Christian Eisenbeiss, Josephine Rose and Miles Ketley serving as executive producers. Universal Pictures International, through its division Universal Pictures International Production (UPIP) has acquired worldwide rights to the film.

Screen Yorkshire

Screen Yorkshire offers production financing for content in the TV, film, video games and the digital sectors in Yorkshire and Humber, through the Yorkshire Content Fund, the biggest regional investment fund for production in the UK. Backed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the fund is open to content producers working in film, TV, games and digital based in Yorkshire or from outside but looking to establish a base in the region. It has attracted £15m from ERDF as part of Europe's support for the region's economic development through the Yorkshire and Humber ERDF Programme 2007-13. Recent investments include: Dad's Army, Swallows & Amazons, How To Talk To Girls At Parties, The Hunter's Prayer, A Royal Night Out, The Railway Children (York Theatre Royal), Peaky Blinders, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, Testament Of Youth, The Great Train Robbery, Get Santa, X + Y, Death Comes to Pemberley, Catch me Daddy, '71, Black Work and Bill. www.screenyorkshire.co.uk