Tinsel Town: Here’s what I really thought of Sky’s Tinsel Town shot in Knaresborough, Wetherby, Leeds, and Harrogate

Now, a star-studded Christmas film has shone a light on the captivating beauty of this mediaeval market town as a destination in its own right, writes Sophie Mei Lan.

Sky’s long-awaited Christmas movie Tinsel Town - featuring Rebel Wilson, Kiefer Sutherland and Jason Manford - has finally been broadcast this weekend.

I’ve heard so much about the film locally with the Hollywood stars enjoying Greggs on set and British actor Danny Dyer being unable to turn down his role with the promise of a fight scene with Canadian movie star Kiefer Sutherland.

This in addition to the local actors and organisations involved such as Screen Yorkshire and Police Lot.

Sutherland plays Bradley Mack, a failed action star who is sent from Hollywood to a Yorkshire village by his agent (Katherine Ryan) to perform as Buttons in Cinderella.

Following shots on set in Hollywood we see Sutherland travel to the UK where he gets dropped off at the Savoy.

Except it’s not the London Savoy, to his bemusement, he’s dropped off at a Savoy bed and breakfast in the fictional town of Stoneford.

Here we see stunning views of Knaresborough Viaduct and the town’s quaint medieval streets.

The film only showcases a slice of the breathtaking beauty of Knaresborough, yet it's enough to entice people unfamiliar with the area to explore the landscape further.

Within ten minutes of watching this light hearted comical film with my husband, he confessed to me that he had never been to Knaresborough but “would love to go.” Success already.

I realised too that I’d only ever passed through Knaresborough on my travels.

While Sutherland struggles to adjust to village life in the film, his hilarious co-stars which includes Meera Syal, Jason Manford, and Rebel Wilson of course introduce Sutherland to British humour.

Not only do scenes take place in Knaresborough but also in Wetherby and Versa Studios in Leeds.

Matilda Firth, from Cleckheaton, plays Sutherland's daughter in Tinsel Town, which also stars Derek Jacobi.

Jacobi plays a wise ‘grandfather’ of the pantomime and shares the joys of this British Christmas tradition.

This Sky original film also touches on modern family life with blended families and Jakobi beautifully plays a widow as her panto star husband has passed away.

Wilson plays a straight-to-the -point choreographer, Jill, who puts Sutherland in his place.

Sutherland, who initially has an inflated ego, eventually drops his guard in this heartwarming Christmas film. He reunites with his estranged daughter as well as falling in love with pantomimes.

The whole film contains pantomime slapstick comedy, as well as having a predictable fairytale ending.

Coincidentally am-dram company the Knaresborough players are performing Cinderella this year at The Frazer Theatre.

Knaresborough Players also managed to get Sky’s commissioning editor to premiere the film to the public at the 127-seat The Frazer Theatre. The free tickets for the screenings went within seconds.