Sugartown hits BBC1 after filming on Yorkshire's East Coast (22/07/2011)
Shaun Dooley, Miranda Raison and Tom Ellis are among the ensemble cast of Sugartown, a new three-part comedy-drama series for BBC1 revolving around a small seaside hamlet in the North of England which once enjoyed a heyday as the "stick-of-rock" capital of Britain. Sugartown filmed throughout Filey, Scarborough and Bridlington and was supported by Screen Yorkshire with locations and crew assistance. Sugartown will screen on BBC1 on Sunday 24th July at 10.25pm.
Alistair Don, Location Manager on Sugartown, said: "Having worked on Sugartown as a location manager based in Yorkshire, it was a delight to be able to work along the stunning and varied North Yorks coast. The time spent working in Filey, Scarborough and Bridlington was helped significantly by the fantastic local councils, residents and business’. The landscape offers so much in terms of natural beauty, with small coastal villages adding to the range of locations and larger towns helping to facilitate the logistical aspects of the shoot. Myself and the entire cast and crew thoroughly enjoyed our time on the shoot and were made to feel very welcome by all."
As the series begins, the staff at Sugartown's famous rock factory are busy preparing for Jason's surprise engagement party to local hairdresser Emily. Jason's glad to give them something to celebrate, because, frankly, "rock ain't rolling" any more and he's only just keeping the business afloat. But the party – and the whole town – are set to be derailed by the unexpected return of Jason's suave, prodigal brother, Max.
Emily and Max had been childhood sweethearts but that was before he walked out on the fading seaside resort for the big city and broke her heart. But all that's behind her now and she loves Jason. Max's reappearance can only spell trouble, though, and he swiftly proves her right by announcing his big plans to redevelop the town and cash in on Britain's new wave of holiday-at-homers, starting with a controversial casino. Worse, he wants to close the family rock business to take his share. As the town's main employer and claim to fame its closure would devastate the community.
However, the eccentric, loveable gang of Sugartown locals don't plan to take things lying down. With unlikely help from another newcomer, a spirited young dancer, Carmen, who's fallen in love with the town and its resident bad boy, Travis, they discover Sugartown once had another claim to fame – dance – and they may just have found a way to save it.
Jason is played by Shaun Dooley, Emily by Miranda Raison, Max by Tom Ellis, Carmen by Georgia King and Travis by Rob Kendrick.
Sugartown is produced by Shed Media Scotland for the BBC and is being filmed on location in Filey and Scarborough. Executive producers for Shed are Head of Drama Kate Croft, and Jodi Reynolds and executive producer for the BBC is Simon Wilson.
Executive producer, Kate Croft says: "Sugartown is a passion piece, combining wry humour with escapism, in the form of fantastical colourful dance sequences. We are so excited about Chris Gernon, Susie Liggat and the talented team who have joined us to bring the show to life. Sugartown is about a community of people who still care for each other – Filey in January may not be tropical, but the show has a very warm heart!"
