Star hails Yorkshire market town where film was shot

Kiefer Sutherland and Rebel Wilson star in Tinsel Town

Hollywood star Kiefer Sutherland has hailed the warm welcome he received while filming his new festive movie in North Yorkshire and has promised to return.

Film crews rolled into Knaresborough at the beginning of the year for the making of Sky Original movie Tinsel Town, which also stars actress Rebel Wilson and EastEnders' actor Danny Dyer.

Ahead of its official release on Friday, Sutherland told BBC Radio York the thing he enjoyed most about the town was "the people", because they were "so nice and welcoming".

Asked whether he would return, he said: "Yes absolutely...I made some friends in the area so will definitely come back."

The film sees Sutherland play Bradley Mack, a failed Hollywood action star who takes on a role in a small English village's eccentric production of Cinderella.

Here he encounters a number of local characters, one of which is the straight-talking choreographer Jill, played by Rebel Wilson.

Residents said Kiefer Sutherland was really friendly while filming in the town

The Canadian actor said the comedy would give American audiences a taste of the quintessential British tradition and said it had also showed him what starring in a real-life panto would be like.

"It's something I enjoyed a great deal," he said.

"I also felt it was so reflective of a larger sense of British humour, which I enjoy immensely.

"So yeah, I think I understand what a panto is now but I'm always willing to learn more."

Ahead of its official release, the film will be shown in Knaresborough's Frazer Theatre

Known for his iconic role in the 1987 cult classic film, The Lost Boys, the actor described the town as "looking beautiful" during filming in January and February.

The cast and crew were spotted in areas like Castlegate, Riverside, and Green Dragon Yard, causing much excitement from residents and businesses.

Chris Foggin, the film's director, described Knaresborough as the ideal "chocolate box" location for the movie.

He said: "I'm not just saying it, but the success of being able to make this film is because all the businesses allowed us to be there and the residents were brilliant."

Although Tinsel Town will be officially released on Sky Cinema on Friday, Knaresborough's Frazer Theatre will host an exclusive early screening on Tuesday for those who managed to snap up tickets for the free event.

The theatre said it was "thanks to the efforts of a local resident" that Sky had given them permission to show the movie.

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