Film industry brings in £3m of production spending

The 2015 BBC adaptation of Hillary Mantel’s novel Wolf Hall was shot at Montacute House, an Elizabethan mansion in Somerset

Somerset Council is hoping to promote the county as a blockbuster filming destination, after industry production brought in almost £3m to the local economy last year.

Screen Somerset, run by the council, proactively promotes the local area to filmmakers in a bid to capitalise on the UK’s world-class film and TV sector.

A series of high-end shows and feature films have already set key scenes in the county, using location like Cheddar Gorge, Street, Shepton Mallet, Minehead and Norton St Philip.

The authority want to make Somerset as 'film-friendly' as possible, bringing in economic benefits, supporting jobs, and boosting tourism in the long-run.

The entertainment sector helps showcase the county's unique and stunning scenery

In the last year, Somerset has seen an estimated £2.8m of production spending, compared to an estimated £1.1m in the previous financial year of 2023-24.

Councillor Mike Rigby, lead member for economic development, said: “As well as the direct income when productions are in town, there is big scope to use filming to attract more visitors and possible spin-offs for local skills and employment.

“We have a stunning and varied county and it’s fantastic to see so many productions coming our way as Screen Somerset raises our profile on the national and international stage," he added.

Screen Somerset provides a single point of contact, local knowledge, and works with the council’s highways, parking and property services to make production run as smoothly as possible.

Accommodation providers are also being urged to make the most of this blockbusting trend by putting themselves forward as lodgings for crew.

The Levelling, filmed in Burrowbridge in 2016, took advantage of the aftermath of the Somerset Levels flooding to serve as the backdrop for a haunting drama

The county's filming portfolio currently includes Hot Fuzz, filmed in Wells, 28 Years Later captured in Cheddar Gorge, and Broadchurch filmed in Clevedon, among many others.

John Turner, CEO of Visit Somerset, said: "I am delighted that finally Somerset is being recognised by potential film production teams for its incredible locations, history, and heritage.

“The whole film location movement is really helping to ensure Somerset is seen in a new light.

"Visit Somerset is committed in its partnership with Screen Somerset to make sure that as many businesses within the county can gain as much from these investments as much as our visitors enjoy the added value experiences that film tourism brings.”