A North Yorkshire market town, typically quiet in mid-February, is buzzing with excitement as it plays host to A-list actors for the filming of a new Sky Original Christmas movie. Knaresborough, still adorned with Christmas lights, is the backdrop for Tinsel Town, starring Hollywood heavyweights Kiefer Sutherland, Rebel Wilson, and Danny Dyer.
The town’s festive decorations were kept in place as part of the film’s setting, surprising both residents and visitors. Annie Wilkinson-Gill, a local shop owner and self-proclaimed Sutherland super-fan, expressed her delight at the news. She had even planned to get a tattoo of the Lost Boys and 24 star before the opportunity arose to meet him in person.
Wilkinson-Gill, who runs The Crystal Buddha on the High Street, said members of Knaresborough’s business collective were informed about the filming schedule for January and February but were not told who the stars would be. “It’s been very exciting, there’s been such a massive buzz around town,” she said.
The revelation came when a fellow business owner appeared as an extra in one of the film’s scenes. Wilkinson-Gill learned that Sutherland was involved in the project, prompting her to rush to the filming location at Kirkgate, where she caught a glimpse of the actor. “I got a smile, and I smiled back. I thought I could die happy now,” she recalled. That evening, she even managed to snap a selfie with the star after he approached her.
In an amusing twist, Wilkinson-Gill had already scheduled a tattoo of Sutherland’s face as a vampire from The Lost Boys, which she plans to have inked on her inner thigh. “All the signs point to it being the right decision now,” she said with a laugh.
Kelly Young, from Knaresborough’s Chamber of Trade, was alerted to the filming in October when she was asked to keep her Christmas decorations up in her Castlegate hair salon. “We knew it was going to be going on, but not at what level,” she said. “This is obviously very high-end with Hollywood movie stars, so it’s getting a little bit exciting.”
Tinsel Town tells the story of a washed-up Hollywood actor looking to revive his career by starring in a pantomime in northern England. Knaresborough’s Castle Yard, a picturesque location near Young’s childhood home, is featured in one of the film’s scenes. “For it to become part of a movie set, I think people will fall in love with it just like we have all our lives,” Young said.
Since filming began, local businesses have benefited from the production. Young expressed optimism that Knaresborough’s cafes and bars would see a boost in business, with the town already generating revenue from the shoot. Michael Landreth, who runs the Yorkshire Beeswax Candle Company, shared his experience of the filming outside his shop. “I saw Kiefer do all his trial runs, and the cast and crew actually came into my shop,” he said.
Sky confirmed that Tinsel Town will premiere on Sky Cinema at Christmas 2025, marking the end of Knaresborough’s star-studded filming experience.
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