Blackpool Grand Theatre makes its own starring performance in a new BBC and NBC children’s drama Dodger!.
The first five episodes of this prequel to the classic Charles Dickens tale is already on BBC iPlayer and the Grand turns up in Episode Five.
It’s an action-packed episode as Fagin’s gang fight to save someone’s life, and Dodger scores a leading role at a haunted theatre.
The "boisterous and amusing drama" is already trending with reviews describing it as "channelling the energy of Horrible Histories"; "will help get young people back into Dickens!" and "comes close to reminding us of current times of reduced heating, fuel and food shortages—cue a big helping of Dickens."
It stars Christopher Eccleston as Fagin and David Threlfall as Chief of Police, Sir Charles Rowan. Playing Dodger is Billy Jenkins with Saira Choudhry as Nancy.
Filming took place across the north west, including Blackpool’s iconic Victorian theatre. The timing helped towards the theatre’s running costs while closed.