The drama, starring Sean Bean, filmed for 17 weeks in and around the city in the summer of 2024

This City is Ours boosted the Liverpool City Region economy to the tune of £9m after a 17-week shoot in the area last year.

The new BBC drama received investment from Liverpool City Council’s Film Office via Liverpool City Region Combined Authority LCR Production Fund. The fund was launched by Mayor Steve Rotheram in 2019, supported by £3m from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and is facilitated and operated by Liverpool Film Office.

This City Is Ours is from Left Bank Pictures and local writer Stephen Butchard. The shoot generated and safeguarded 300 direct, indirect and induced FTE jobs for local people, while also supporting 17 trainees into the industry, as well providing placements for two apprentices from the film office.

Head of Liverpool Film Office and fund manager, Lynn Saunders, said: “This City Is Ours is a fantastic example of how the LCR Production Fund has worked to not only draw in production but bring great benefit the local economy.

“The project has reported a total spend for the region at just under £9m which equates to just under £20 for each £1 spent of the Fund’s investment – which is an outstanding achievement.

“With a gripping script from creator and local writer Stephen Butchard and championing our homegrown talent, there’s certainly a special buzz around this project and we can’t wait to see how it plays out on the screen.”

Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: ““The LCR Production Fund isn’t just bringing millions into our local economy—it’s opening doors for local people, giving them life-changing opportunities and helping them get a foot in the door of the industry.

“By backing projects like This City Is Ours, alongside the world-class talent and infrastructure we’ve got here, we’re making sure our region isn’t just part of the conversation—we’re leading it by working to cement the region as the ‘Hollywood of the North’.”

Over the last five years, Liverpool Film Office has brought 1,564 film and TV productions to the Liverpool City Region, which has resulted in 5,279 direct/FTE jobs being created within the industry, generating £168m inward investment to the local economy.

Productions to have been supported through the LCR Production Fund so far are:

• The Snow Spider (Leopard Pictures/CBBC)
• Still So Awkward (Channel X/CBBC)
• The Family Pile (Hat Trick Productions/ITV)
• Time (BBC Studios/BBC One)
• Help (The Forge Entertainment/Channel 4)
• The Responder (Dancing Ledge Productions/BBC One)
• The Ipcress File (Altitude Television/ITV)
• Time 1&2 (BBC Studios/BBC One)
• This City Is Ours (Left Bank Pictures/BBC)
• G’wed 2 (Golden Path Productions/ITV)