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16
Feb
'I want a Yorkshire-produced award-winning show': Harrogate man gears up for brand-new motoring series
Harrogate man Alan Marcon has revealed plans to create his own TV show inspired by the glory days of Top Gear.
The proposed show, named The Yorkshireman, would follow Alan and a co-host as they drive Britain's most scenic routes. Each episode would combine filmed road segments with a studio discussion in front of a live audience.
Alan hopes to attract a new demographic of viewers by hosting the programme alongside a female presenter.
He says:
My dream is to bring back a UK-inspired car show with diversity. The decades of TV car shows are dominated by men and this has to change. There are many women petrolheads that are never listened to.
Alan also wants Yorkshire to play a central role, from behind-the-scenes work in production to the on-screen conversation.
He adds:
I want a Yorkshire-produced award-winning show based on fun, facts, cars and proper Yorkshire banter.
The show would also deal with important issues such as environmental impacts, mental health, and education around driving safety.
Production plans
The car, fitted with a 1967 Chevrolet engine, ready for action.
Episode one will cover the famous route through the Scottish Highlands seen in the James Bond film Skyfall.
The episode has been scripted and planned by Alan, and dates have been set for filming in mid-April.
Alan has already acquired the necessary filming equipment including Gopros, hands-free radios, and microphones.
Drone footage will also play a big part in the show, and Alan is on the lookout for experienced drone and camera operators.
Crucially, Alan’s car, which he and his dad designed and fitted with a 1967 Chevrolet engine, is being worked on by local engineers to fit it with suspension and upgrade its aesthetic to appeal to a more modern audience.
Alan has estimated that the total cost to produce, film, and edit this first episode will be around £2,000.
As well as the epic drives set to be featured on the show, Alan also wants The Yorkshireman to include a studio segment where he and his co-host engage with a live audience. Current plans point towards The Motorist café in Sherburn-in-Elmet being the show's studio base.
Alan says:
The best part of the show is our studio set. The viewers and audience create the show; so not only do we produce content, but we use what the audience send in too.
Alan Marcon plans to drive the famous route from Skyfall
What’s next
Once filming has wrapped on episode one, Alan will edit the footage and create a teaser trailer to release on social media. He has already set up pages across Instagram, X and Facebook, and copyrighted the show’s name, The Yorkshireman.
He will also create a longer edit to send to major production companies such as Amazon and Netflix to showcase what can be accomplished with a limited team and budget with the hope that the show will be backed by a larger corporation.
If the show is not picked up by one of these companies, Alan still has the drive and the passion to produce the show himself and release it on YouTube or other suitable streaming platforms.
At present, The Yorkshireman remains an independently developed project, with filming for its first episode scheduled to begin in April.
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