We live in real-life Brassic town & Michelle Keegan fans flock here – but they’re always baffled by how different it is
RESIDENTS who live in the real-life Brassic town say fans who visit are always baffled by how different it is.
The Sky comedy-drama follows the lives of a group of working-class friends in the fictional northern town of Hawley.
But many of the scenes are shot in real-life Bacup, ten miles north of Rochdale, Lancashire, where local pubs, shops, homes and other locations often double for those seen on-screen.
Residents, who often line the streets to watch filming, say the "Brassic-effect" has given the town a real boost and helped “put in on the map”.
Kim Robertson, who runs Kim’s cafe, said the shows crew and stars, including Joe Gilgun, who plays Vinnie O’Neill, have sometimes popped in for a coffee or a sandwich.
Kim, 45, said: “I think Brassic had been great for the town.
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“It’s helped put us on the map because not a lot of people knew about Bacup.
“Joe used to come in and mingle and chat with the customers, but I think they do their own catering now.”
Her niece Tamia Robertson, who also works in the cafe, added: “The TV show has definitely had a positive effect.
“I think its got a lot more people talking about the town.
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“It has a lot of positives: there are so many beautiful buildings and the people are really friendly here.”
The cafe has become so popular Kim is now planning to branch out by offering Caribbean food.
Just up the road from the cafe, Gemma Lewis is the former landlady of The British Queen pub, now run by her uncle, where she still works behind the bar.
She said: “They’ve used the upstairs of the pub and even my home for filming, where everything had to be emptied out before being put back again.
“And one night the cast and crew came in to the pub so they could eat their fish and chips, and I got a free portion which was great.
“Michelle [Michelle Keegan, who plays Erin Croft] and Joe fed treats to my pet dog Bella and put photos on her Instagram page.”
Gemma, 29, added: “It’s good seeing the town on the telly and I enjoy watching the series.
“It’s really funny.”
Linzi Rowell, 35, who’s lived in Bacup all her life, is also a “big fan” of the series and says locals often come out to watch it being filmed.
She said: “I like it because it’s funny and stupid and easy to watch.
“It’s been good for the town in general.
“But I don’t think the people are really like the characters you see on screen.”
She added: “I love living here because there’s a real sense of community.”
Conrad Dempsey, 62, lives next door to a house that often appears in the series with crude graffiti daubed over its pink door.
He said: “Fans have stopped me in the street and asked, ‘Is this the house that has the d*** on the door.
“They always remove it after filming.
“But people still like to have their photo taken in front of the door.”
Kelly Rushton, 45, said: “I love the show and like the fact Joe’s character has bipolar because I have bipolar too and it helps raise awareness about it.
“Of course, everything is a bit exaggerated on screen but the series is enjoyable to watch.”
Michelle Keegan, who has a favourite sweet shop in the town, certainly enjoys filming there because “everyone is so lovely”.
She said: “When we are filming up there, so many people are watching on the streets and with a pub that we film in, there's a sweet shop next door.
“It's just a really friendly community there and because it's a small community I think as soon as they get wind that we're filming there, everyone just wants to come out and get involved and see it, see the crew and say hello.
“So it's a really nice place to film.”
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Damien Molony, who plays Dylan, says he is “blown away” by the reaction from locals when they film in the area.
“We love going back there,” he added.
