Bolton’s much anticipated “Town of Culture” programme will include tours around some iconic film and TV locations. The town, especially its centre, has become a familiar site on cinema and television screens in recent years after featuring as a backdrop in Peaky Blinders, Ridley, Fool Me Once and many more. Having been chosen as Greater Manchester’s Town of Culture for 2024, a range of programmes will also give people the chance to see where these scenes were filmed for themselves.
Council cabinet member for culture Cllr Nadeem Ayub said: “I am immensely proud of the fact that we hold this prestigious title and I would like to thank Andy Burnham and the team at GMCA for selecting Bolton . “And I am delighted to share our plans for culture and creativity.” Adrian Dunbar on the set of Ridley in Bolton (Image: Newsquest) Cllr Ayub said that as well as a recently published programme for children which included activities “throughout the borough” this would also include a series of walks.
He said: “A series of Bolton Town Centre film and TV walking tours are in development for late summer. “So, if you fancy having a selfie in the very dock that Tommy Lee Royce escaped from in Happy Valley then be sure to book early to avoid disappointment, places will be snapped up!” Addressing a full meeting of Bolton Council, Cllr Ayub said the events over the summer for children would take place across Bolton and more events would be rolled out in the autumn. He said this would include a series of Town of Culture grants which would give individual artists and organisations the chance to bid for funding.
ALSO READ: Bolton unveiled as this year's 'Town of Culture' ALSO READ: Bolton status as 'Town of Culture' will leave a lasting impact ALSO READ: Free children activities kick off in Bolton this weekend The town centre also see the return of the Put Big Light On show for Christmas as well as “something spectacular” in Victoria Square. Cllr Ayub had been responding to a question put by Cllr Karen Hon, of Great Lever. She pointed to events like Ironman, Bolton Pride and the Right to Roam festival which had already taken place this year as well as the Food Festival and Film Festival that are yet to come.
Cllr Hon said all of these had contributed to the borough’s successful bid for the Town of Culture title..
