The BBC has been spotted filming Shane Meadows' new drama The Gallows Pole in a quiet Yorkshire village.
Film crews from the BBC have descended upon the quiet West Yorkshire village of Heptonstall, near Hebden Bridge, transforming its tiny cobbled streets into that of an 18th-century town as they shoot new drama The Gallows Pole.
Inspired by a real-life story about a gang of counterfeiters who lived in the area hundreds of years ago, the new BBC drama is based on Benjamin Myers’ award-winning novel of the same name.
Image: Angela Jarrett
Its heroes, the Cragg Vale Coiners, came to the area in the 1700s to produce fake gold coins that supplemented their income from weaving and were responsible for what became known as the biggest fraud in English history.
The new BBC drama will feature This Is England star Michael Socha alongside actors Thomas Turgoose, 1917’s George MacKay, Sophie McShera, Tom Burke, Cara Theobold, Yusra Warsama, and Eve Burley.
Image: Angela Jarrett via Twitter
Documenting a fascinating period of Yorkshire history, The Gallows Pole will dramatise how the pursuits of the counterfeiters, also sometimes known as the Yorkshire Coiners, ultimately damaged the British economy and set the men up as rebels against the state.
Images shared on Twitter by Angela Jarrett show actors dressed up in full 17th-century costume, with the women in full skirts and shawls, whilst the male actors donned loose shirts, thick work boots, and dirty-looking waistcoats.
Sharing the discovery to Twitter, Angela wrote: “went to visit son in Calder Valley for a bit of walking and visit to picturesque olde worlde Heptonstall – happened upon filming taking place for new BBC period drama coming soon called The Gallows Pole”.
She also posted the image of a grave of one of the chief coiners, which is also located in Heptonstall.
A portion of the headstone reads: “Here was interr’d the body of Grace Hartley of Lodge in Erringden who departed this life Sept 2nd 1802 in the 61 year of her life.
"Also of David Hartley her Grandson who departed this life Feb 23rd 1845 aged 25 years."
Feature image - Dawn France via the Afghan Rug Shop on Twitter
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Bus operator partners with Leeds hospitals to help mums-to-be make vital appointments
First Bus is partnering with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to support vulnerable women during pregnancy.
The bus operator is providing an incredible 1,000 day tickets to help vulnerable mums-to-be make appointments.
The free travel passes can be provided by maternity teams to women mainly from minority or disadvantaged communities, helping them to attent important check-ups and appointments.
A recent review of records estimates that 100 pregnant women every month struggle to make hospital appointments as they have no access to funding support or face other barriers to transport.
Image: Supplied
First Bus will provide 100 day tickets per month until March 2027 for midwives to distribute to women based on travel needs following a financial assessment which is carried out during their initial appointment with the maternity team.
Nada Abdul-Majid, Specialist Midwife Health Equity at the Trust, said: “I’ve seen first-hand how women struggle to get to their hospital appointments if they don’t have enough money to use public transport.
“Our Haamla team carry out home visits to these vulnerable women however, it is important that families are able to travel to the hospital for scans, doctors’ appointments, labour and obstetric emergencies.”
Zoe Hands, Managing Director of First Bus Franchising which includes the West Yorkshire region, said: “Supporting communities in the areas we serve means, where we can, being able to assist people in all stages of life. Nothing can be more important than helping to ensure the health and welfare of mothers-to-be and the benefits this will bring to their newborn children.
“We’re pleased to be working in partnership with the Trust and seeing the positive impact our travel support can make to the lives of vulnerable women in Leeds.
“We’re really grateful to First Bus for providing these tickets for women so they can receive maternity care without worrying about the cost of travel to and from appointments,” added Nada. “This will make a real difference to mothers and babies.”
Channel 4 is looking for adult virgins with ‘intimacy issues’ for next series of hit reality show
Emily Sergeant
Channel 4 is back looking for more adult virgins to take part in the potential next series of its hit reality show Virgin Island.
If you’re unfamiliar with Virgin Island, it’s unlike anything ever seen on TV before.
First hitting screens back in 2024 and having run for two successful seasons now, Virgin Island follows the journey of a group of adult virgins who are whisked off to a Mediterranean island retreat to learn life-changing skills in the art of intimacy.
Working with leading international therapists, the aim is to help the young people overcome their fears and insecurities when it comes to intimacy and sex.
Channel 4 said it chose to commission the show after a recent study into intimacy found out that one in eight British 26-year-olds is, apparently, still a virgin.
A casting call for the new series on the Channel 4 website reads: “Are you a virgin and do you need help and guidance with your fears and insecurities around intimacy and sex? Double Act Productions is casting adults for a potential second series of Virgin Island.”
You just need to be over 21 years of age to take part in the show.
Fancy it then? Or know someone who may be up for the ride? Applications for the potential next series of Virgin Island are now open, and there’s still plenty of time left to put your name down.
You can find out more and register your interest here.
Georgina Pellant -
25th October 2021 
