‘Barry Glitter’ film to get premiere in Blackpool

Barry Glitter has been directed and co-written by National Film School graduate James Gardner, and was shot in the resort last autumn.

Now the cast, including ex-Brookside actor Dean Sullivan, who played Jimmy Corkhill and Emmerdale’s Andy Moore as Barry, will be back in town for the launch, at one of the film’s locations the Brunswick Club, Bethesda Road, on December 5.

Other locations to be spotted include the Tobago bar in Talbot Road and the seafront at Bispham.

James said: “It’s a story set in 1997 about a strange relationship between a father and daughter, and what happens when the dad - who’s a Gary Glitter Tribute act - finds out that his idol has been arrested.

“It’s the fall out of someone finding that their idol is a false idol, but it’s about the relationship between a man and his daughter.”

James decided to set the £4,000 production in the resort, partly because of it’s ‘extremely cinematic’ backdrop and also because of its entertainment industry.

“No where looks like Blackpool, but it also has this history of tribute acts and performance,” he said.

“Barry’s ultimate dream was to perform at the top of the Tower, so we couldn’t have imagined anywhere else that the story could be set.”

He also credited the support he received from Sarah Rhodes, of Rhodes Media, who handles all filming requests for the resort, on behalf of Blackpool Council.

The team’s now promoting the film on the festival circuit, with James having completed his masters at the National Film and Television School in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire.

It’s been accepted for the qualifying rounds of the BAFTA Short Film Festival, with the hope of it going on for further UK and international screenings.

The Blackpool premiere starts at 7pm, doors at 6pm, and is open to the public.