North's art and history set to star in TV show

Nov 14 2009 by Brian Daniel, The Journal

THE North East is set to receive more international television exposure through an art and history series.

A Brush with Britain is being produced for Discovery Real Time and Discovery Travel and Living by Orion TV, a company based in Northumberland.

The ten-part series tours the UK, seeking out hidden history, historical gems and fascinating locations. Presenter Charles Evans, an artist from Acklington, Northumberland, paints a picture in each place, whilst passing on hints and tips to budding artists.

Episodes have already been filmed at Alnwick and Ford and Etal in Northumberland, with more to follow at South Shields, Sunderland and Barnard Castle.

The show will be broadcast across the UK and Europe from January.

The episode at Alnwick will take in the town’s castle, home to past and present Dukes and Duchesses of Northumberland and film location for Harry Potter and Robin Hood movies, with the crew only the second in six years to be allowed access to this historic site.

Viewers will be given a glimpse of the castle’s renaissance artwork and books and be taken inside an underground tunnel once used by servants to carry food from the kitchen to dining table.

The episode features Charles’ attempt to replicate Canaletto’s famous view of the castle.

It also takes in the Alnwick Garden, going into the underground technical centre beneath the grand water cascade, from where the fountains, Treehouse and Poison Garden are powered.

Filming was also carried out at the town’s famous second hand book shop Barter Books, located in an old railway station, in an 800-year-old priory at Hulne Park and in the town centre.

The crew also visited Alnmouth beach to film Bilton sculptor Tom Dexter who makes art from driftwood.

Orion TV managing director Bob Whittaker said: “Northumberland is a stunning county and hopefully viewers watching the series across Europe and the UK will start packing their bags and heading here to see amazing history and hidden delights that the region has to offer.” Mr Whittaker, from Shildon, a former broadcast journalist with Tyne Tees, Sky and ITN, runs the company with his wife Marrisse Whittaker.

The couple set up the company in 2004 based at London and Newcastle, before moving the North East office to their home at Alnmouth.

Co-director Marrisse, from Boldon, worked as a make up artist before moving into script-writing, with her portfolio including Hollyoaks, Byker Grove and Doctors.

She researched and set up each location for the latest series.

Bob said: “Our main aim is to expand in the North East. The region has been starved of commissions from the big broadcasters but people like the BBC are now being told they must commission more out of London.

“That is why we took a decision to expand up here.”