Billionaire Boy: Shooting wraps on festive drama filmed in Yorkshire

The drama was filmed in Rotherham and Sheffield, and will be the third time in recent years that projects backed by Screen Yorkshire have featured prominently in the festive release schedules.

It follows Death Comes to Pemberley, which was filmed in York, Leeds and Beverley, and The Great Train Robbery, which featured the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, in 2013 and The Haunting of Radcliffe House, filmed at Brodsworth Hall in Doncaster, and West Yorkshire-filmed Get Santa last year.

Billionaire Boy is the fourth BBC adaptation of a Walliams novel and tells the story of Len, who makes a billion from inventing a new toilet roll, and his 12-year-old son Joe, who appears to have everything he could want but what he really needs is a friend.

Much of the filming took place at Oakwood High School in Rotherham, featuring Walliams as Mrs Trafe, a dinner lady at Joe’s school who is described as dirty and old and who is dreadful at cooking.

Joe is played by newcomer Elliot Sprakes, while Cold Feet star John Thomson plays his father Len.

Comedian Catherine Tate, Vicar of Dibley star James Fleet, The Thick of It actress Rebecca Front, and Harry Potter star Warwick Davis also appear in the drama.

Filming took place throughout October and wrapped at the weekend. Grade-I listed country house Wentworth Woodhouse is another of the key locations used.

Executive producer Jo Sargent, of King Bert Productions, said: “’We’ve had a brilliant time shooting Billionaire Boy in Yorkshire.

“The combination of fantastic crew and locations, brilliant performances from the local children and investment from Screen Yorkshire created the perfect package for a successful shoot.

“We can’t wait to share the results with audiences this Christmas.’’

Screen Yorkshire chief executive Sally Joynson said: “'We’re delighted to have had the opportunity to work with King Bert to bring David Walliams’ Billionaire Boy to the screen.

“With a fabulously entertaining script and stellar cast on board, it has all the makings of a real treat for audiences over the festive season.”