Film and TV shoots attract £250,000 to towns

Major film and television productions have attracted about £250,000 to coastal towns, a local authority says. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP) attributes the rise in filmmakers choosing the region to its "diverse scenery and historical sites". Highcliffe Castle in Christchurch, Lake Pier in Hamworthy and Southbourne Beach have seen the glamour and glitz of blockbuster movies. Councillor Richard Herrett, cabinet member for destination, leisure, and commercial operations, said: "We live in a beautiful place of the world, with miles of sandy beaches, stunning coastline, and historic buildings which offer a wealth of possibilities for film and TV projects." Earlier this month Hollywood star Ben Stiller was filming at Highcliffe Castle in Christchurch for Netflix. In June, filming took place at Lake Pier in Hamworthy for a blockbuster show about the American political dynasty, Kennedy, starring Michael Fassbender as Joe Kennedy Sr. Southbourne Beach had also recently been used as a filming location for Netflix.