Posts Tagged Brinford
WPC 56 Series 3 Episode 1 Preview Screening
Posted by sparks68 in BBC, Birmingham, Black Country Living Museum, Crossroads, On Location Tour, WPC 56 on March 5, 2015
Having received a very kind invite from BBC Birmingham PR a few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending the preview screening of the first episode of series three of WPC 56 this afternoon at the new Everyman cinema in the Birmingham Mailbox and here is my report (no spoilers) on the event and the episode.
Everyman cinema
Birmingham’s latest cinema experience was hosting today’s event, which was organised by BBC Birmingham Public Relations. I’d seen pictures of the Everyman cinema in the press a few days ago and it looked very impressive and I have to say it didn’t disappoint. I was welcomed by BBC PR (Thanks Bryn George for the invite) and introduced to WPC 56 series producer Mike Hobson before being shown into the screening. I took a seat on one of the very comfortable double sofas, plumped up my cushion and tucked into the complimentary pizza that was waiting on the small round drinks table between the sofas. This was a great cinema experience, and one I’m sure to try again soon.
WPC 56 Series 3 Episode 1 – A Different Beat
The proceedings were kicked off with a short introduction from Joe Godwin, Director of the BBC Academy in Birmingham, who then handed over the introduction of the screening to series producer, Mike Hobson, who wasted no time at all in getting the episode started and we were about to be treated to 45 minutes of brilliant, edgy daytime police drama.
I won’t go into too much detail of the actual plot but I will share a couple of things of interest (no spoilers).
It’s been well documented that WPC Dawson (Jennie Jacques) would not be featured in series three and we would see the arrival of a new WPC (Taylor) played by, the Moseley born, Claudia Jessie so I was interested to see how this change of lead character was handled. The answer to my own query, was that it was done well and quickly.
After a quick recap from series two the opening credits subtly revealed the character change as the silhouetted outline of the WPC in the police line had taken on a new shape.
All open plot threads from series two were cleared up within the first few minutes, covering WPC Dawson’s absence, and we were soon introduced to WPC Taylor, who now wears the WPC 56 badge, and her police family. The second new character, DI Harry Sawyer (Oliver Rix), was also pretty quick to appear on screen, and his character was soon established in the opening scenes. As the episode progresses we learn that DI Sawyer has a complex family background, that I’m sure will develop nicely over the five episode series.
New character introductions and series two housekeeping swiftly out the way we were then left to enjoy the rest of the risqué and gritty subject matter of the first episode, all done in a way that stays just about suitable for a daytime audience of course, although I’m sure some of the ‘Mary Whitehouse brigade’ will find some of the content a little too near the mark for a 2.15pm show, but then they should maybe find something else to watch if they are not happy.
By about halfway through I’d almost forgotten that there were new characters to get used to as they blended into the series so effortlessly it seemed like they had been there all along. WPC Taylor is much feistier than her predecessor Dawson and DI Sawyer is clearly a troubled man with an interesting personal back story. Both these new characters bring a new dimension to the show which I’m sure viewers will warm to very quickly.
The whole cast were superb, from screen newcomer Amy Shepherd, as beauty pageant contestant Helen Reilly, to established actor Brian Capron, as comedian and compare Clifford Starkey, but the standout performance for me was from Susannah Doyle, who played June Sawyer, in a role that was a complete change from the character she played in Drop The Dead Donkey back in the 90s.
There was also a welcome return of a well loved ‘character’, which Liam Jeavons told me afterwards, was the same one we were introduced to in series two, although I wasn’t convinced. If you saw series two you will spot, as I did, the brief reappearance and when I did I found a smile breaking out across my face, as I recalled the series two episode they first appeared in.
Location spotters will no doubt be delighted to see the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley playing yet another starring role in a TV drama as well as an appearance of Château Impney in Droitwich, famously the venue for the wedding reception of Meg & Hugh Mortimer in Crossroads way back in 1975 , and the return of familiar Brinford Station exterior in Margaret Street.
The end of the episode left us all wanting more of this great drama, but, as always, the only disadvantage of these sneak preview screenings is that we now have to wait nearly a week to see how the story progresses when episode two airs.
Cast and Crew Q&A
Following the episode screening we were introduced to new WPC, Claudia Jessie, series creator, Dominique Moloney and series producer, Mike Hobson and the host for the Q&A, BBC Midlands Today’s, Satnam Rana. The initial Q&A saw the cast and crew quizzed by Rana about the change of WPC, the locations used, and the risqué subjects covered, all of which were confidently answered by each guest in turn.
The questions were opened up to the audience and they asked further questions about locations, and story lines and also the use of the Birmingham accent, which Jessie answered brilliantly, giving her Nan the credit for her being able to drop back into a native Birmingham twang for the role.
Rana also revealed that BBC Midlands Today have a WPC 56 feature which they will air on Friday 6th March 2015, featuring a look behind the scenes of making the drama in Birmingham, so make sure you don’t miss that.
I briefly chatted with both Liam Jeavons (PC Tommy Perkins) and Claudia Jessie (WPC Taylor) as well as writer and creator Dominique Moloney as everyone started to exit the plush new cinema. They spoke about the cast surprise at the subjects covered in the scripts; especially for episodes 4 and 5, the fun they have making the show and the friends they have made while working on it and way the introduction of the new characters was handled to avoid a repeat scenario of the very first episode introductions. They were all happy to chat and spend some time discussing the show and my blog updates, which they all seemed genuine appreciative of, which was really nice to hear.
You can see episode one of WPC 56 series three when it starts at 2.15pm on Monday 9th March 2015 and you can still catch up with Series One and Two on BBC iPlayer if you need a recap before next week.
Thanks to BBC Birmingham PR for the invite and thanks to all those I spoke to for being friendly and appreciative of my promotion for this great show.
If anyone is interested you can enter a free competition to run alongside the new series.
NB: The competition is not organised by the BBC or the programme writers and is not affiliated with the show and is just for fun.
WPC 56 Series 3 – Episode Guide
Posted by sparks68 in BBC, Birmingham, Black Country Living Museum, WPC 56 on February 26, 2015
Here is the much anticipated episode guide summary for the new series of WPC 56 which starts on BBC One at 2.15pm on Monday 9th March 2015.
Monday 9th March – A Different Beat (Episode One)
Brinford’s new WPC, Annie Taylor (Claudia Jessie) is on the trail of a shady predator who is targeting contestants at a beauty contest. There’s a shock in store for Briggs (Mark Healey) and DI Sawyer (Oilver Rix) who are haunted by old foes and former wrongdoings.
Tuesday 10th March – Walk the Line (Episode Two)
Annie’s involvement in a gruesome murder case causes a rift with her father (John Duttine). As Briggs struggles to be a good husband, Susie (Rachel Leskovac) continues to infuriate lovesick Sergeant Swift (James Barriscale). When an old colleague asks Fenton (Charlie De’Ath) for help he worries he’s no longer up to the job.
Wednesday 11th March – From the Shadows (Episode Three)
When DI Sawyer’s missing suspect makes a violent reappearance, events take a sinister turn. The net tightens around Briggs as Coulson (John Bowler) recruits Fenton to do his dirty work. Annie and Tommy (Liam Jeavons) play cupid to Susie and Swift.
Episodes 1 to 3 Directed by Lisa Clarke
Thursday 12th March – The Wayward Wind (Episode Four)
Briggs’ misfortune allows Coulson to reassert his power at the station, and DI Sawyer questions a suspect with a chilling wartime story to tell. When Gloria (Melissa James) is accused of a crime Tommy struggles to be professional, and Fenton makes a shocking discovery at a boarding house.
Friday 13th March – Requiem (Episode Five)
The team are forced to decide where their loyalties lie after news of a tragic event, but will they take a stand against Coulson? Annie and DI Sawyer are running out of time as they struggle to unlock the dark secrets of the Petra Project.
Episodes 4 and 5 Directed by David Beauchamp
Series One is available on BBC iPlayer
Series Two is repeated from Monday 2nd March 2015 at 2.15pm on BBC One.
WPC56 FAQs Series Two
The site attracted a lot of visits from fans of BBC1 daytime drama WPC56 at the start of 2014, so I thought I’d be helpful and create a page of FAQs based on the common search terms people have used to arrive on the site.
- Is WPC56 a new series or repeat?
The new five part series (series two) started on Monday 10th February 2014. This was preceded a week earlier by a repeat of series one, again five episodes, that first aired in March 2013, to allow viewers to catch up on the plot lines that will continue into the second series.
Series 3 will start filming 19th October 2014 and is likely to be on screen early 2015.
Series Two gets another outing from Monday 2nd March 2015 on BBC One at 2.15pm. - Where is WPC56 set?
WPC56 is set in 1956 in the fictional suburb of Brinford in Birmingham. - Where was WPC56 filmed?
Series one and two were filmed on location in Birmingham and the Black Country. The exterior of Brinford Police Station is the Birmingham & Midland Institute in Margaret Street and the station interiors were filmed in an empty factory in Vittoria Street in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter. The Black Country Living Museum in Dudley was also heavily used for scenes in both series.
Moseley School announced they will be a series three location before any filming commenced.
– Series One Locations (also see WPC56 Locations Facebook Group)
– Series Two Locations
- WPC56 on iPlayer?
The episodes from series one and two are no longer available on iPlayer - WPC56 on DVD?
A DVD release of series one or two was released on 29th September 2014. - WPC56 Danny Szam?
Danny Szam plays Sapphire Club manager Chris Hutton in series two. You can find him on Twitter @DannySzam - WPC56 Miss Susie Nightingale (Secretary)?
Brinford’s new station secretary, Susie Nightingale, is played by Rachel Leskovac. You can find her on Twitter @RachelLeskovac1 - Who is the new D.I. in WPC56?
DI Max Harper is played by Ben Turner. You can find him on Twitter @iamBenTurner - WPC56 BBC full cast 2014?
The best source for the main cast list is the official BBC website for the series. The Internet Movie Database will give you a full set of cast and characters for both series to date. - Who plays Ruby Clarke WPC56 series 2 episode 2?
Ruby Clarke is the undercover name that WPC Gina Dawson assumes so she can investigate the Sapphire Club. Gina (and therefore Ruby) is played by Jennie Jacques. - WPC56 Theme?
The theme was written by Debbie Wiseman OBE and a sample can be heard on her website – WPC56 Theme - Who manages the Brothel in WPC56?
Rosie Turner is the madam of the brothel and is played by Emma Cooke. - What’s Lenny from WPC56 been in?
Lenny Powell is played by Michael Higgs. Michael’s previous roles include, PC Eddie Santini in The Bill and Andy Hunter in Eastenders.
Hope these help answer your questions and I think Nigel Travis sums things up with this tweet;
I told you there’d be trouble ahead @JennieJacques1 #WPC56 pic.twitter.com/8nDhF8ZLpN
— Nigel Travis (@Nigel_Travis) February 11, 2014
WPC 56 Series Two – Repeats Monday 2nd March 2015
Posted by sparks68 in BBC, Birmingham, WPC 56 on January 24, 2014
The hugely successful BBC drama WPC 56 returned to daytime TV on Monday 23rd February 2015 with a repeat of series one (originally broadcast 2013). These five episodes are quickly followed by a repeat of series two from Monday 2nd March 2015 on BBC1 (originally broadcast 2014).
So what can we expect from WPC Gina Dawson and her colleagues at Brinford station in series two? We have a healthy mix of truancy, prostitution, murder, forgery and bribery giving us a daring mixture of gritty storylines for a daytime show. Here’s a detailed look at what’s in store;
New characters
Joining Gina Dawson (Jennie Jacques) and Sergeant Fenton (Charlie De’ath) from series one at Brinford station are;
PC Tommy Perkins (former Halesowen College student Liam Jeavons), Sgt. John Swift (James Barriscale – The Bill, Silent Witness), DI Max Harper (Ben Turner – Casualty) and new secretary Susie Nightingale (Rachel Leskovac – Coronation Street, Last Tango in Halifax, Shameless)
So proud of our young PC @LiamJeavons who is filming”WPC 56″ for BBC TV & will hit our screens in 2014 @Westendagent pic.twitter.com/AnOd35DF8d
— Wintersons Agency (@wintersons) November 26, 2013
Series Two Episode Summaries
Episode 1 (Cry Cry Cry) sees WPC Dawson and her colleagues deal with the arrival of a funfair owner Brendan McCormack’s (Francis Magee – Game of Thrones, Eastenders) travelling fair and a feud over a teenage runaway. Sgt Fenton and DI Harper clash over the discovery of the body of a married councillor at the flat of Rebecca Jones (Jessica Duncan).
Episode 2 (Dead Man Dancing) introduces a young truant, Lizzy Maddock (Harmonie Lloyd), and her local boxing champion dad, Mike Maddock (Nigel Travis – Coronation Street, Peaky Blinders, Mrs Biggs, Nowhere Boy) who finds Gina’s interfering most unwelcome. Mike’s comeback is threatened when he is ordered to throw the fight. Gina goes undercover at the Sapphire Club, managed by Chris Hutton (Danny Szam), as part of the murder case.
Pic of me on the set of #WPC56 miss everyone so much can’t wait until its on x x x #lizzymaddock #Birmingham pic.twitter.com/d1zoBBdZGr
— Harmonie Lloyd (@thelloydfamily) December 10, 2013
Episode 3 (The Eye of the Storm) leads DI Harper and PC Perkins to the elusive Rebecca, who has been beaten while being held captive at a brothel by Lenny Powell (Michael Higgs), but she won’t talk. At the Sapphire Club, Gina is enjoying her undercover role as Ruby Clarke but finds she is growing fond of manager Chris and a murder turns Sgt. Fenton’s world upside down.
Driving this bad boy round our 1950’s set yesterday! what a hoot! #WPC56 #BBC #Birmingham pic.twitter.com/rblpB1Uzzs
— Danny Szam (@DannySzam) November 27, 2013
Episode 4 (That Old Devil Called Love) sees Lenny arrested and under suspicion of murder. Sgt. Fenton’s deceit is discovered and even his evidence against Lenny may not be enough to save him. Lenny’s escapes when his prison transport is ambushed giving him the opportunity to reveal the true identity of Ruby Clarke.
Thoroughly enjoying filming WPC56! Hard to believe we’re over half way?! — Jennie Jacques (@JennieJacques1) November 19, 2013
Episode 5 (The Harder They Fall) finds Sgt. Fenton discovering a local forger is making a fake passport for Lenny, but he is shocked when he sees who turns up to collect it. A shot is fired during a struggle with a suspect and WPC Dawson is shocked to find that she is the one under investigation. Can Gina clear her name as the series reaches its thrilling conclusion?
Last day of filming on #WPC56 – what a cast & crew. Seriously going to miss this job! #wpcfam #biglove #backtothedayjob
— Jessica Duncan (@jessicaduncan91) December 1, 2013
Series Two Locations
A great deal of series two was filmed at the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley (as were a number of scenes in series one) as it makes a perfect film set for a period drama. The production returned to Margaret Street in Birmingham city centre to film the exterior of Brinford station at the Birmingham & Midland Institute and the interior scenes were filmed in an old factory building in Vittoria Street in the Jewellery Quarter.
#WPC56 season 2 looking sharp. Exterior shots this morn. Love the 1950’s #BBC#Birminghampic.twitter.com/gzvSDP7ZC3
— Danny Szam (@DannySzam) November 17, 2013
The brothel scenes were filmed at Bearwood Corks Club, Bearwood Road, Smethwick and other scenes were shot in Edgbaston and Barnt Green.
If you missed series one then make sure you catch up on BBC iPlayer before you catch series two next week. As Daniel Brocklebank (who plays Carl Saunders) confirms below it’s great pretending to be back in the 1950s and WPC56 will take you there each day at 2.15pm.
Another lovely day of pretending that it was 1956… #WPC56 might just be the happiest tv show I’ve ever worked on.
— Daniel Brocklebank (@Dan_Brocklebank) October 29, 2013
The WPC 56 Cast on Twitter
A large number of the WPC 56 cast are on Twitter, here is a link to a list of their accounts
Welcome back Brinford and here’s hoping that series two expands the fantastic viewing figures from the first series (22% share of audience) and we get a further series of adventures with WPC Gina Dawson.
WPC56 – Series Two
Posted by sparks68 in BBC, Birmingham, WPC 56 on October 18, 2013
It’s been confirmed for a while now that the great daytime series WPC56 would be getting a second series, hopefully airing at a more mainstream time of day, but this evening the lead actress has confirmed they start shooting, in Birmingham this weekend.
If you need a reminder of some of the locations used in series one then you can check the WPC56 Locations page and keep your eyes open for 1950s cars and clothes on the Birmingham streets over the next few weeks as shooting gets underway.