Charting the history of television in the North of England, a new film curated and presented by the Yorkshire Film Archive will give a glimpse into the history of television programming in Bradford and the North.
Screening at Pictureville Cinema on 19 January, TV Comes North: Bradford brings together archive footage of first broadcasts, award-winning documentaries and regional news features to look back at history of tv programming in the region.
Audiences can look forward to seeing iconic footage such as the BBC’s Interludes, together with memorable programmes including the star-studded opening night of Yorkshire TV or Michael Clegg’s myth-busting investigation into the famous Stott Hall farm on the M62. As well as footage from historic local news features such as the election of Bradford’s first Asian Mayor and Yorkshire TV’s 1976 documentary, The Bradford Godfather.
Commenting on the screening, Yorkshire and North East Film Archives Manager, Graham Relton said: “I’m really looking forward to heading back to Bradford and taking audiences on a whistle-stop tour of TV in the North. I’ll be showing some old favourites together with plenty of newly unearthed footage, ranging from pop culture, the weird and wonderful – including local attempts at breaking world records – to the best regional news features and hard-hitting documentaries. There really is something for everyone to tune into!”
David Burton, Cinema Commercial Manager at the National Science and Media Museum added: “We’re thrilled to be hosting a special screening of TV Comes North: Bradford at Pictureville. The Yorkshire Film Archive have brought together some fascinating footage to look back at the history of television programme in the North and Bradford. The film has been specially tailored for our audiences and cinemagoers can look forward to seeing footage of prominent moments from throughout Bradford’s history as well as early footage of the museum.”
The presented film is part of a new project called TV Time Machine, a collaboration between three Northern film archives, the Yorkshire and North East Film Archives, and the North West Film Archive, supported by Film Hub North with National Lottery funding on behalf of the BFI Film Audience Network.
The screening of TV Comes North: Bradford will be on Thursday 19 January at Pictureville Cinema.
For more information and to book tickets, visit our website.
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Notes to Editors
The TV Comes North to Bradford trailer can be viewed on the Yorkshire and North East Film Archives website and is available for web and exhibition use. For more information, further or higher resolution images, footage for web or broadcast please contact Ruth Patman on 01904 876550 or via email r.patman@yorksj.ac.uk.
A media pack of film stills is available to download. Please credit the Yorkshire and North East Film Archives
For more information about Pictureville Cinema and the National Science and Media Museum, please contact Brittany Noppe, Senior Press Officer on brittany.noppe@scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk
About the Yorkshire and North East Film Archives
The Yorkshire Film Archive was formed as a registered charity (and company limited by guarantee) in 1988, to preserve the rich film heritage of our region. In 2012, the YFA constitution was changed to incorporate responsibility for the North East Film Archive, extending the remit to ‘find, preserve and provide public access to moving images made in, or about Yorkshire and the North East of England’. Together the collections now total in excess of 70,000 items, covering an area stretching from South Yorkshire to Berwick-upon-Tweed.
The archives have grown from a small collection of films discovered through local community programmes to one of the UK’s leading regional film archives, respected nationally and internationally for their commitment to finding, preserving and creating access to its collections for the widest range of audiences.
The collections largely comprise non-fiction material, on film and various videotape formats, though contemporary material is increasingly acquired on a range of digital formats. Collections range from regional television news and programmes, through to advertising collections, the output of local cine clubs, community and amateur filmmakers, and astonishing home movie collections revealing a rich social history of everyday life over each decade of the 20th century.
In June 2022, the Yorkshire and North East Film Archives were recognised for their work by FOCAL International, winning the ‘Company of the Year’ Award.
About the National Science and Media Museum
The National Science and Media Museum in Bradford, West Yorkshire, opened in 1983, and has since become one of the most visited UK museums outside London. It draws on more than three million objects from its national collection to explore the science and culture of image and sound technologies, and their impact on our lives.
The Museum creates special exhibitions, interactive galleries and activities for families and adults, and is home to three cinemas, including Europe’s first IMAX cinema screen and the world’s only remaining public Cinerama screen. Entry to the Museum is free.
