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28
Nov
Stars rave about Knaresborough and Harrogate at Tinsel Town premiere
She might not be able to pronounce it, but Ayda Field Williams — wife of singer Robbie — has become one of Knaresborough’s biggest fans.
The glamorous couple were among the famous faces at Leicester Square’s Vue cinema last night (November 27) for the world premiere of Tinsel Town, a feel-good Christmas film partly shot in Knaresborough.
The Stray Ferret was at the premiere to watch the first showing of the Sky Cinema and Future Artists Entertainment production, which co-stars Kiefer Sutherland and Rebel Wilson. Both were at the premiere, but fellow co-star Danny Dyer wasn't.
We were keen to talk to the celebrities about their time in North Yorkshire.
There was a huge buzz in Knaresborough during filming in February and, as often happens, some of the stars fell in love with the area.
Rebel Wilson, who plays no-nonsense pantomime choreographer Jill, did a spot of shopping in Harrogate during her time up north.
Speaking to the Stray Ferret at the premiere, Wilson said she even managed a trip to Bettys tearoom and a local cinema:
I did like Bettys tearoom, shout out Bettys! My grandma is called Betty and she would’ve loved that spot. I had scones, biscuits, a lot of treats – a lot of things I shouldn’t have been eating – but when it’s that cold, I feel like you burn it off quicker.
I just thought [the area] was very beautiful. I went to the cinema there. I saw a Bridget Jones movie and cried my eyes out one day. People probably were like: ‘What is she doing?’. I looked distraught coming out of that cinema.
Wilson also praised the “lovely and warm” locals, who she said were “so embracing of us filming”.
“They were so excited about a movie like this being filmed in their town and I just really liked meeting all of them”, she added.
Teddy Williams, daughter of music legend Robbie Williams and his wife Ayda, plays Wilson's on-screen daughter in Tinsel Town.
Teddy, who charmed the press accompanied by her A-list parents, told the Stray Ferret she believes she could convince her parents to make the move to Yorkshire after shooting there.
“It’s so pretty”, she says.
Teddy Williams and her mother Ayda Field Williams
Ayda, a Californian, could be forgiven for pronouncing Knaresborough ‘narrows-borough’ after declaring her love for the area. She said:
We loved Yorkshire. We visited Knaresborough and Harrogate.
The Williams family also paid a visit to Bettys during their time in the Harrogate district, which Teddy said she loved and will “100%” be returning to.
“Would recommend”, Teddy added.
Knaresborough was on the big screen at last night's premiere of Tinsel Town.
A festive comedy, Tinsel Town tells the story of egotistical American actor Bradley Mack whose career is in decline, played by Emmy-award winning Kiefer Sutherland.
He heads to a quaint English town to rebuild his image, only for his long-suffering agent (Katherine Ryan) to land him a role in the local production of Cinderella.
It is there he meets Jill and the rest of the cast and is launched into the wonderful world of British pantomime.
Directed by Bank of Dave director, Chris Foggin, the film will be officially released on Friday, December 5, on Sky and NOW. It airs in the US today.
An early screening is being held at the Frazer Theatre in Knaresborough on Tuesday (December 2), whilst a number of pubs across the town are celebrating Knaresborough’s fandom with free screenings on December 5, which is the official release day.
Look out for more coverage, including interviews with some very famous faces, from last night’s premiere.
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