Classic Yorkshire tale of love and lust to be aired on TV

Room at the Top, adapted from John Braine’s post-war literary classic and starring Maxine Peake and Matthew McNulty, has been filmed at locations across the region over recent months.

The gritty tale of love, lust and social mobility in northern England following the Second World War became a huge hit when the book was released in 1957, and is now viewed as a classic of 20th Century British literature.

Within two years it had been made into an Oscar-winning film starring Laurence Harvey and Simone Signoret, filmed at locations including Bradford, Bingley and Keighley.

The new two-part adaptation for BBC Four is the first screen adaptation of the novel in more than half a century, and aims to bring the story to a new contemporary audience for the first time.

A range of locations across Yorkshire have again been used for filming including The Garden Gate and Cardigan Arms pubs in Leeds; Bradford and Morley Town Halls; the Shaw Lodge Mills in Halifax; and the Hippodrome in Todmorden.

Regional screen agency Screen Yorkshire played a key role in arranging filming at many of the locations and securing local production crews for the film shoot.

Chris Hordley, the agency’s production liaison manager, said: “We are thrilled to have played a part in bringing this iconic literary classic, which has its roots firmly steeped in the region, to the screen.

“Over the past year we’ve seen an increasing number of producers recognise the seductive combination of diverse locations and experienced crew that Yorkshire has to offer. Viewers can look forward to a fantastic range of television drama filmed here in 2011.’’

Room at the Top tells the story of Joe Lampton (McNulty), an ambitious young man who courts the daughter of a rich local businessman to advance his prospects.

But when he falls in love with a married older woman (Peake) and embarks upon a risque affair, his reputation and whole social standing are put at risk.

Part one will be screened on BBC Four at 9pm on Thursday, April 7.