Runcorn revamp will inspire young talent, says sitcom creator

Screenwriter Susan Nickson wants to encourage more working class people into the arts

The creator of sitcom Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps has said she hopes a town's £23.6m redevelopment will encourage more working class people into the arts.

Susan Nickson said the plans for Runcorn, Cheshire, were "incredibly important for young people".

The scheme will see improvements to the Brindley Theatre and a creative and digital skills centre created.

Ms Nickson said she hoped plans would help young people "share ideas".

The screenwriter, who is from Runcorn, said: "It's incredibly important for young peoples' mental health to be able to find other like-minded people and be able to share ideas and build on their own talents.

"This deal with the town just means that there will be resources there that people who won't necessarily be able to afford an instrument or afford a space to develop their talents will have those resources.

"And hopefully that will mean for the working classes more talent will be encouraged so we'll get more working class people into the arts and into the industry."

Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps was first aired on the BBC in 2001

The Reconnecting Runcorn programme has been allocated £23.6m from the government's Towns Fund and includes developments close to where hit sitcom Two Pints of Lager was filmed.

New homes and a creativity and digital skills centre is planned for the existing Hazlehurst Studios site.

The developments are near the former Waterloo pub which was used for the exterior shots of The Archer pub in the series, and is now a Buddhist temple, and work is continuing to develop a community peace garden.

"It was astonishing, it's such a wonderful place to visit. I was blown away," Ms Nickson said.

"Obviously before, when it was the Waterloo pub, it was a place that I would come and drink and maybe play darts or a game of snooker back in the day.

"And now it's just this incredible spiritual building."