YORK has been the backdrop for many films and TV series over the years.
The latest work to hit screens is the TV crime drama Patience, currently airing on Channel 4 on Wednesday nights at 9pm with all episodes available to view on demand now.
There have been many other TV shows filmed – in part or in whole – in the city, including Gentleman Jack, Victoria, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, and the Netflix blockbuster, The Crown.
But Hollywood has come a-calling too, and household-names and Oscar-winning stars are among the many who have filmed in York over the years.
Here are 7 film facts about York’s colourful movie history – test your friends!
1. Elizabeth (1998)
Cate Blanchett (Queen Elizabeth I) stars in Elizabeth: The Golden Age. The coronation scene was filmed in York Minster which doubled for Westminster Abbey Oscar-winning actor Cate Blanchett filmed the coronation scene for her hit 1998 movie Elizabeth at York Minster, which stood in for Westminster Abbey. It was the first time Minster authorities gave permission to use the cathedral interior as a set. It paved the way for other productions to film in the cathedral, most recently, in 2023, scenes for season six of The Crown when eagle-eyed locals spotted actor Imelda Staunton in the Minster.
2. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001)
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – featured a scene filmed at York Railway Station which doubled for King’s Cross
York is now a Harry Potter attraction in its own right, with fans flocking to the Shambles believing it to be an inspiration for Diagon Alley; however did you know that York Railway Station was used to represent Kings Cross station in the first movie of the popular franchise in 2001: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone where there is a scene featuring a young Harry and Hagrid walking over ‘Kings Cross’ together?
3. Agatha (1979)
Dustin Hoffman pictured at York Railway Station during the filming of Agatha. Photo: York Press
Another Oscar-winning A-lister was also in York for filming, again at the railway station. In 1977, Dustin Hoffman filmed scenes at the station for the movie Agatha, released in 1979, based on the story of crime writer Agatha Christie’s ‘disappearance’ and short stay at a hotel in Harrogate. Press reader Patricia Craven spotted the Hollywood star out and about during her lunch break and recalls an amusing reaction from the celebrity: “I passed him in Parliament Street in my lunch hour. He saw I had recognised him and put a finger to his lips, indicating for me to not say anything about who he was. I remember going back to work and exclaiming ‘I’ve just seen Dustin Hoffman’!”
4. Chariots of Fire (1981)
Closing scenes of Chariots of Fire filmed at York Railway Station
Staying with Academy Award winners, it is easily overlooked, but some of the final scenes in the 1981 hit film Chariots of Fire about two British runners at the 1924 Olympics were shot at York Railway Station. Reader Dave Potter has this recollection: “I was working with the BR Eastern Region PR department when the film was made and was with the film crew for all the filming. I seem to recall they were there at the station for two days for the filming. We did quite a few films there: The Dresser, Yanks, Agatha, Wagner (met Richard Burton lol) to name a few. Interesting, but very long days when nothing happened for hours and then all let loose for a few minutes.”
5. The Dresser (1983)
Albert Finney and Tom Courtenay starred in The Dresser in 1983 – filming took place in York station. Courtenay is pictured above third from left in the front Reader John Shaw also recalls The Dresser – the 1983 British film about an ageing actor and his personal assistant which starred Albert Finney and Tom Courtenay (who won a Golden Globe for the role). Again, scenes were filmed at the railway station. “The film many have forgotten that featured the York footbridge was The Dresser with Albert Finney,” says John. Another reader, Jojo Baggins, recalls in our Facebook nostalgia group, Why We Love York Memories, meeting one of the stars: “I met Tom Courtney on a platform when he was filming ‘The Dresser’, nice man.”
6. The Correspondence (2016)
Ukrainian-born actress and model and former Bond Girl, Olga Kurylenko filming in Micklegate, York, in May 2015 during the shooting of The Correspondence with Jeremy Irons. Picture Frank Dwyer.
In 2015, celebrated British actor Jeremy Irons and former Bond Girl Olga Kurylenko filmed scenes for their movie, The Correspondence, in York. Olga was photographed by one of our photographers in Micklegate, while over at the University of York campus, students were recruited at £40 a day to be extras. The film was a romantic drama where Irons played a professor having an affair with a younger colleague.
7. My Dad’s Christmas Date (2020)
Poster for My Dad’s Christmas Date – filmed in York in 2019 for Amazon Prime
In 2019, York was the backdrop for the Amazon Prime film My Dad’s Christmas Date. Filming took place across the city, including the riverside, the art gallery, York Castle Museum, and at St Peter’s School. Scenes were also shot at the Christmas Market. It starred Jeremy Piven, Olivia-Mai Barrett, Joely Richardson, and Roger Ashton-Griffiths, and was produced by York-based MRS Media. In another York connection, the soundtrack was composed by York duo Govardo – Dom Sky and Jack Rose.
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Share your memories
Were you an extra in a film? Have you spotted a famous face in York. We’d love to hear your stories and see your photos. Contact: maxine.gordon@thepress.co.uk.
If you love delving into York’s past and seeing photos and reading stories from yesteryear then make sure you check The Press every day for its regular nostalgia stories. And don’t miss our eight-page nostalgia supplement every Wednesday in the paper.
We also have more than 3,000 members in our online nostalgia group on Facebook, Why We Love York – Memories. It is free to join and you will find us at www.facebook.com/groups/yorknostalgia/.
It would be great to see your old photos of York – and they don’t have to be from centuries ago. We all love seeing old photos from our recent past, and some of our more popular stories with readers date from the 70s, 80s and 90s.
If you have a nostalgia story for us, please email maxine.gordon@thepress.co.uk.