Six new and recent TV shows filmed in Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester has long been a favourite filming location for TV and film, thanks to its rich blend of urban grit, stunning architecture, and diverse neighbourhoods.  

In recent years, the city has become a bustling hub for new and exciting TV productions, showcasing its unique character on screens around the world. From gripping dramas to heartwarming Northern comedies, Greater Manchester’s streets, landmarks, and local talent have pushed front and centre in a fresh lineup of shows making waves in 2024. 

1. Daddy Issues  

Image credit: Screen Manchester/BBC

Aimee Lou Wood, a born and raised Mancunian who rose to fame for her role in Sex Education, stars in Daddy Issues alongside David Morrisey. Taking place in Stockport, Daddy Issue viewers might spot some well-known landmarks throughout the show. Market Place and the Underbanks in the Old Town are heavily featured in scenes at the hair salon café - the latter is Rhode Island Coffee in real life.  

Stockport is rising as a popular choice for filming with the likes of Peaky Blinders, BBC drama Sherwood, ITV's After the Flood, and Harlan Coben Netflix series The Stranger and Stay Close having been filmed there in recent years. 

2. Domino Day  

Image credit: Screen Manchester/BBC

BBC Drama Domino Day is building a cult following having recently been released in the States after debuting on BBC Three earlier this year. All set and filmed in and around Manchester city centre, particularly in the Northern Quarter; viewers can spot scenes in Stevenson Square, Lost in Tokyo bar, and former Takk coffee shop on Tariff Street, as well as some of the back streets around Piccadilly.  

The production team – advised by local film office, Screen Manchester – were able to use the vast, and empty, Grade II listed building on the corner of Piccadilly and Newton Street to create Domino's warehouse apartment. Eagle-eyed views may also recognise Project Halcyon at the Bonded Warehouse, Dog Bowl on Whitworth Street, and Barton Arcade as filming spots throughout the show.  

3. Alma’s Not Normal 

Image credit: Screen Manchester/BBC

Alma’s Not Normal, featuring Bafta-winning Bolton actress and writer Sophie Willan, is a moderate love letter to her hometown. During production of series one, crews were spotted filming right across the borough and recently returned for the highly anticipated second series which will broadcast on BBC Two, concluding with a Christmas special. 

Key locations to watch for include Mawdsley Street, The Green Machine bike shop located in Horwich, and the infamous Le Mans Crescent, which has also appeared in productions including Peaky Blinders, It's A Sin, and A Gentleman in Moscow. 

Bolton itself is proving to be a particular successful location for filming, with reports that crews from Netflix, BBC and ITV among others spent 88 days filming in Bolton in 2023 alone – so expect more of Bolton coming to a screen near you soon. 

4. The Jetty 

Image credit: Screen Manchester/BBC

The first scenes of BBC Drama The Jetty show a boat which has been set alight. Anyone familiar with Hollingworth Lake in Littleborough might have recognised it. The reservoir, three miles northeast of Rochdale, has been a popular tourist destination for more than 150 years and one of the boroughs landmarks.  

Many of the show's scenes were also completed in and around Greater Manchester, including around the old police station in Manchester city centre. It also features scenes filmed in the villages of Todmorden, Sowerby Bridge, Calderdale, and Ripponden; all of which neighbour Greater Manchester. 

5. Brassic  

Hero image and above image credit: Screen Manchester/Sky Max

Series six of Brassic has just been released, and if you’re a keen gig goer you may recognise the pub they frequent as Manchester’s Star and Garter by Piccadilly Station. It isn’t the only part of Greater Manchester used for filming though, Oldhamers may recognise that their town was used in the beach town scenes during series five. 

Other locations used around Greater Manchester have included Bolton - scenes have been shot at both Bromley Cross and Le Mans Crescent. Meanwhile, the doctor's surgery scenes are filmed at Salford University's Frederick Road Campus.  

6. Waterloo Road  

Image credit: Screen Manchester/BBC

The teen drama phenomenon Waterloo Road has returned to our screens this year. From series one to seven, the show was shot at a school located in Rochdale, and for the recent revival nothing has changed.  

The BBC has recently announced that Waterloo Road has brought significant economic and cultural benefits to the region. Set and filmed in Greater Manchester, the first three new series of the show have generated at least £6.5m for Greater Manchester and over £9.5m for the broader North West.  

The series is also a hotbed for supporting local talent, providing work experience for young people and fuelling interest in film and TV careers with school leavers and youth groups. 

With plenty of filming in the works throughout Greater Manchester, you’ll probably spot film crews here there and everywhere. Netflix's historical drama House of Guinness has recently transformed the streets of Stockport for their recent filming, and speaking of Netflix, A Gentleman in Moscow was filmed at Space Studios in Ashton. The studios – also home to film office Screen Manchester - regularly house A-Star celebrities and productions that fly under the radar with filming out of view of public eyes.  

With its historical streets and quirky neighbourhoods, it’s no wonder film crews from across the globe descend on Greater Manchester as locations for their next show or film.