SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

From this months SKY MagBehind the scenes with DCI BanksWild at Hearts Stephen Tompkinson swapped South Africa's bush for the urban jungle of Leeds for his latest role. We spoke to him on set...Stephen Tompkinson is probably best known for his roles in mild-mannered, family-friendly shows such as Wild at Heart and Ballykissangel. Which is perhaps why the actor felt it was time to do something, well, darker. "If s good to do something dark," says Stephen. "I thrive on variety, and going from wrapping your lips round a white lion's nose to trying to arrest someone in a basement in Leeds doesn't really get more varied!"The quiet residential street in Leeds where we're standing with Stephen as he films DO Banks - his new two-part crime drama showing this month in stunning high definition on ITV1 HD – is a far cry from Ballykissangel quaint Irish village or Wild at Hearts dusty plains. As Stephen gets ready for his cue, some passing schoolkids are corralled with their teacher and a jogger until the scene has been shot. The crew have taken over the street with fake police cars, news vans, white forensics tents and Sky yellow police tape.They've even built a tower on the opposite side of the road so the camera can get a high shot of the scene that's about to unfold on the ground.Standing suited and booted as DCI Banks, it's clear Stephen is eager to sink his teeth into the rote of the hard-boiled copper, the central character in a best-selling series of books by crime writer Peter Robinson. "I haven't played a detective before," says Stephen, as they cordon off the street to the general public, who are eager to work out if this is a real crime scene. "It felt like time for a new batch of detectives to come along Banks is a London copper on the verge of burnout He comes to live in Yorkshire to recharge his batteries, but there is as much murder up here as anywhere else," he explains.In Aftermath, five girls have gone missing, and when the police stumble across a disturbance by chance, a horrible tragedy begins to unfold with the possible culprit in jail and a girl's life in jeopardy. It's definitely a twist on the modem police thriller and, according to Stephen, so is Banks. "With every murder, Banks dies a little bit more," he explains. "He wants to do things right - he couldn't sleep if he fitted someone up."So could DCI Banks be a worthy successor to classic detectives such as Inspector Morse, Dl Jack Frost and Jane Tennison? "I'm a big fan of the genre," he enthuses. "I love Columbo, Helen Mirren in Prime Suspect and Robbie Coltrane in Cracker. It would be great to get the green light to do more. I'd love to do it for a few years and really grow into it" Big boots to fill then, but from his sharp appearance, he's getting there...I love these on set secretsON-SET SECRETSHITCHCOCK STYLE Author Peter Robinson and his wife Sheila Halladay make a cameo in a crowd scene. "Stephen fits the character very well," says Peter " I'm happy to be in the background, maybe (if it works out I'll be hidden in every episode!" Keep your eyes peeled - the fleeting appearance occurs in a scene filmed outside the house where the murders have taken place.A NOVEL IDEA The presence of Peter Robinson on set caused a clamour. "Peter found himself doing impromptu signings," recalls executive producer Francis Hopkinson. "Everybody became a fan of his books before filming ended."SCAR STORY Such was Stephen's commitment, he kept a fake scar on for a month. "Stephen discovered Banks has a scar on his eyebrow," says Francis. "Some viewers will see it, some won't. But it was important for Stephen to have t"IF THE SUIT FITS Banks' clothes were all part of a master plan to make Banks look more authoritative. "Short haircut and dark suits did the job," says Francis.GOOD NEIGHBOURS "Aftermath was inspired by Fred and Rose West" says Peter "What if they were your neighbours?"STARTING IN THE MIDDLE –Aftermath is the 12th book in the Banks series. Why start so far in?" We thought it was important to introduce Stephen's relationship with DC Annie Cabbot [Andrea Lowe]," says Francis.STUDENT LABOUR Around 40 extras were used, including local students. "I'm not sure how much they enjoyed being woken at 8am every day!" explains Francis.NOT QUITE THE TICKET While DI Banks was filming, an elderly man insisted on waiting at a bus stop, despite the road bang closed off. "He refused to budge!" says Francis.So which one of you golden oldies was at the bus stop?

And today its in the YEP, old news is any news for them...http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/n ... 6508377.jp

Sounds promising...lets hope it's better than that dreadful Kay Mellor / Sue Johnstone thing that was on a while back.

Lets hope its actually set in Leeds and appears as such in the program.Why they couldnt have done that with Frost and loads of other Leeds filmed tv series is beyond me.

The house I'm currently renting was used for all the exterior shots of '27 The Hill' in DCI Banks, yes we did get paid.The TV show is supposed to be true to the book so it will be clear that the house is in Leeds; this is important to the central characters back story.After it has been broadcast I will happily tell you where it was filmed if your interested.

Filmed on albion place ls1 as well.For the bar/cafe scenes.Nice film crew, very helpful.    

I watched the first episode last night, but there didn't appear to be a lot of shots which were obviously Leeds. Bridgewater Place seemed to be in the background a few times, though.Having read the book recently, it does follow the story quite closely, but there's none of the back-story of Banks - such as being a southerner and ex-Met officer, or the fact that he isn't actually based in Leeds at all, but the fictional Dales town of Eastvale. His chain-smoking and real-ale guzzling is strangely absent too!    

Si wrote: real-ale guzzling is strangely absent too!     There was the pub session but maybe they are trying to avoid comparisons with Morse.From the angles most of the shots of Brdgewater must have been from Burmantofts and as Whyme says the street cafe scenes were just of Albion Street with the north western corner of Kirkgate market visible

I think the police headquarters stuff was filmed inside the old British Gas building adjacent to York Road (as was the last episode of Frost), as the Kremlin could be seen through the windows.I'm also fairly sure that a lot of the outdoor stuff was filmed in / around Lincoln Green.It was quite good I though, definitely worth tuning in again for.

tyke bhoy wrote: Si wrote: real-ale guzzling is strangely absent too!     There was the pub session but maybe they are trying to avoid comparisons with Morse. You could be right. However, with reference to the books, more than the TV series, I think the most obvious comparison is with Ian Rankin's Rebus. A maverick, out-of-town, divorced police inspector with a penchant for beer and music, working in a tourist destination, who has affairs with his colleagues.Sounds like a formula.Having said that, I enjoy both Rebus and Banks books, and will be watching next week.