More film-makers eyeing up Shropshire as location

Ludlow Castle is to feature in a new drama about Dick Turpin

Requests from filmmakers to use Shropshire locations are on the increase, an organisation which promotes the county has said.

Ludlow Castle is the latest location and Mark Hooper from Film Shropshire said it will be seen throughout Apple TV+'s new Dick Turpin drama.

Mr Hooper said after a busy 2022, the writers' and actors' strikes had created a lull in period dramas.

But this year had already seen "a huge amount of inquiries", he said.

The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin stars Noel Fielding and has been described as an "irreverent retelling" of the highwayman's story.

Turpin will be "a peace-loving vegan who believes in panache over pistols", the producers said.

"Ludlow Castle is the main location the filming was all done in for Dick Turpin. You can't miss it," Mr Hooper said.

The stars of Apple TV+'s Dick Turpin series - Noel Fielding, Tamsin Greig and Hugh Bonneville

Mr Hooper believes Shropshire's proximity to production companies in Manchester and Birmingham is an advantage.

He also noted how the county has a good supply of green spaces and woods, medieval architecture, windy cobbled streets and stately homes.

"If they need to get out the city, we're an ideal place to come to," he said.

Shrewsbury recently appeared in a BBC adaptation of Great Expectations, and also appeared in The Apprentice and Channel 4's Celebrity Hunted.

Shrewsbury's former Dana prison was a location in the BBC series Time, Stokesay Castle could be seen in Catherine Called Birdy and the RAF Cosford Museum appeared in Netflix's Heart of Stone.

Rag'n'Bone Man was one of the artists to perform at Ludlow Castle in 2023

Mr Hooper, who is also a project leader at the Visit Shropshire tourism promotion group, also has hopes of landing "another big one" fairly soon. He said it would be a "really popular prime time show on Channel Four".

But he said it could be "quite a long process until you get to the point of filming".

Mr Hooper said he was also excited by the music acts coming to perform at Ludlow Castle this year.

This week, promoters Futuresound announced Elbow as the latest addition to the line-up.

He said: "It's absolutely fantastic for tourism puts Ludlow and Shropshire on the map."

The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin will be available on Apple TV+ from 1 March.