'Massive buzz' as Hollywood hits market town

Shop owner Annie Wilkinson-Gill had the chance to meet award-winning actor Kiefer Sutherland

It is the middle of February but a North Yorkshire market town is still decked in Christmas lights.

Confusion turned to delight for residents and visitors in Knaresborough as it was revealed the decorations remained in place for the arrival of A-list actors.

The town has been used as a filming location for a new Sky Original Christmas film, starring Hollywood star Kiefer Sutherland.

Annie Wilkinson-Gill, who owns a shop on the High Street and confessed to being a Sutherland super-fan, said she had planned to get a tattoo of the Lost Boys and 24 star before meeting him in the town.

Ms Wilkinson-Gill runs The Crystal Buddha and said members of Knaresborough's business collective had been told filming would happen in January and February.

But they were not told who would star in the movie.

"It's been very exciting, there's been such a massive buzz around town," the 44-year-old said.

It was only when a fellow business owner starred as an extra in one of the scenes that Ms Wilkinson-Gill found out Sutherland was in the film.

"I was very lucky, I got a message saying they were filming down at Kirkgate and he was there," she said.

"I closed the shop and ran down to see him. I caught a glimpse of him, I got a smile and I smiled back and I thought I could die happy now."

Later on that Friday evening, she said she "dragged her whole family" down to Castlegate and managed to snap a selfie with the actor, after he approached her to say hello.

In a complete coincidence, Ms Wilkinson-Gill had already booked herself in to get a tattoo of Sutherland before she knew about the film.

"I'm getting a tattoo done of his face as he turns into vampire from the Lost Boys, it's going on my inner thigh," she laughed.

"All the signs point to it being the right decision now."

Annie plans to get a tattoo of Sutherland in The Lost Boys on her thigh

Kelly Young, from Knaresborough's Chamber of Trade, said she was first alerted to the filming in October.

She was asked to leave up the Christmas decorations on her hair salon in Castlegate for a film.

"We knew it was going to be going on but not at what level," Ms Young said.

"We've had some films in the past in Knaresborough that were more low-key. This is obviously very high end, we've got Hollywood movie stars and A-listers, so it is getting a little bit exciting."

Kelly Young, who runs a hairdressers on Castlegate, said the news had been very exciting for the town

Sutherland would also be joined by actors such as Rebel Wilson and Danny Dyer for the film, titled Tinsel Town, which is about a washed-up Hollywood actor hoping to boost his career by starring in a pantomime in the North of England.

One of the scenes is set in Knaresborough's Castle Yard, which is next to the flat where Ms Young was born.

"We didn't have a garden so we would go into the Castle Yard and I learnt to ride my bike there," the 45-year-old said.

"The Castle Yard has been such a special place to me growing up but it's also absolutely stunning, I've never seen a view like it.

"For it to become part of a movie set, I think people will fall in love with it just like we have all our lives."

Since the filming began, she has liaised the with crew, who she said had all been professional.

"The businesses of Knaresborough, the cafes and bars, will hopefully see a return in it, it's already generated money for businesses," she added.

Also in the yard is Michael Landreth, who runs Yorkshire Beeswax Candle Company.

"I was in my shop and they were doing a test-run outside my front door," he said.

"I saw Kiefer do all his trial runs and the cast and crew actually came into my shop.

"The main event took place directly outside of my door, I had to even move my plant pots away so they could do it," he added.

Sky confirmed Tinsel Town would be coming to Sky Cinema at Christmas 2025.

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