Excellence deserves to be recognised and celebrated. The 2024 Stray Ferret Business Awards is the event to put your business, people or great initiative in the spotlight!

Make the most of your efforts by reading our top 10 tips for writing your submission for success.

Entries close on January 19, 2024.

Mark Charnock, who plays Marlon Dingle in ITV’s Emmerdale, will be the celebrity guest at the grand opening of a new travel agent in Harrogate this week.

The actor, who lives in the town, will be at the new branch of Althams Travel from 11am to 1pm on Saturday, January 6, when there will also be opportunities to win holiday vouchers worth up to £1,000 each.

The arrival of the new branch, between WHSmith and Claire’s on Cambridge Street, has created five new full-time jobs.

Sales development manager Marie Leach said:

“It’s the perfect time to open, people will be looking to escape to the sun and our friendly team will be here to help the people of Harrogate.

“We have been looking to open in Harrogate for a long time now but we have been waiting for the perfect place and we have found it.

“Being independent means we are not tied into selling particular holidays, so we can find the holiday that works best for our clients.”

Established in 1874, Burnley-based Althams now has 32 branches across Yorkshire, Lancashire and Lincolnshire. The nearest ones to Harrogate currently are in Otley and Horsforth in West Yorkshire.

Swinton seafood residency

Rick Stein’s former right-hand man is to hold a five-day seafood residency at the Swinton Estate, near Masham, this spring.

Stephane Delourme, who was previously head chef at Rick Stein’s Seafood Restaurant in Padstow, Cornwall, will host a series of exclusive dining events and masterclasses from May 7 to 11.

The week starts with a gala dinner in Samuel’s Restaurant and continues with a series of hands-on cookery masterclasses, intimate chef’s table experiences, and a Fish and Fire lunch at The Terrace Restaurant and Bar.

Stephane said:

“Guests will be able to experience some incredible seafood and discover the tastes and flavours from many of the dishes that we have become renowned for in the South West.

“I cannot wait to come to Swinton and cook using ingredients sourced directly from the estate, along with those from the east coast. Life is about making memories and I look forward to doing this together.”

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Speculation has been mounting on social media after a photographer snapped pictures of a film crew in action at Crimple Valley viaduct yesterday.

James Forster, a wildlife photographer, set out to capture the wildlife in Crimple Valley when he spotted some unusual activity on the viaduct.

Pictures he shared with the Stray Ferret show a limousine, film crews with cameras and boom microphones as well as three actors preparing for the shoot.

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It is unclear what film or TV show the film crew is working on. There has been much excitement in Leeds where Samuel L Jackson has been filming a new Marvel series for Disney Plus but he is not thought to have headed north to Harrogate.

Mr Forster’s images on Twitter provoked comments that ITV has been filming Emmerdale in the area.

The Stray Ferret asked ITV whether it was filming Emmerdale in Harrogate but the broadcaster said it was unable to comment at this time.

The 31-arch viaduct is one of the most photographed structures in the Harrogate district.

A drama school whose star students regularly appear in TV shows has opened in Harrogate.

Articulate Drama School and Agency supplies child actors for production companies on programmes such as All Creatures Great and Small, Gentleman Jack, Peaky Blinders, Emmerdale, and Last Tango in Halifax.

It is now running weekly classes for young people aged five to 21 at St George’s Community Centre on Mornington Crescent.

Stacey Burrows, director of Articulate, said:

“Harrogate is fortunate enough to offer lots of opportunities for young people to get involved in drama and the arts, but for those wanting to explore the art of TV acting and see how they get on in the industry, Articulate classes and representation can be just what is needed.

“We chose Harrogate because increasingly, our TV and film clients are asking us for children to film in nearby locations such as the Yorkshire Dales, York, Ripon and Harrogate itself.”

Some of Articulate’s talented youngsters include Tilly Kaye, who plays Biff in CBeebies series Biff & Chip and Austin Haynes, who has just finished filming as a leading role in sequel to the The Railway Children, which is set to be released in cinemas in April next year.

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Some of its actors have also worked overseas for TV and advertising projects. For example, Ilkley teen Henry Kent flew to Mexico to film a Coca Cola advert.

Ms Burrows said the agency’s set-up was geared purely towards TV and sessions were filmed so children could analyse their skills.

There is no singing or dancing, and she said often children without backgrounds in those areas adapted better because they were more natural. Anyone can take part.

Sessions take place on Wednesday evenings and cost £29.50 a month. A free trial is available.

For further details visit here. Or you can email dramaschool@articulatesdc.com or call 01274 033773.

Photo: (left) Aiden Cook on the set of All Creatures Great and Small and (right) Dexter Hughes with Suranne Jones on the set of Gentleman Jack