BBC have released new images of its TV Series Time – part of which was filmed in St Helens Police station – starring Bella Ramsey and Jodie Whittaker.

St Helens Star: Bella Ramsey as Kelsey MorganBella Ramsey as Kelsey Morgan (Image: BBC MEDIA CENTRE)

The three-part series is written by multi-award winning Jimmy McGovern and Helen Black, and is directed by Andrea Harkin The BBC and BritBox North America have released a selection of new images from the second series the multi award-winning hit drama Time, produced by BBC Studios’ Drama Unit.

A screening of the first two episodes took place in Liverpool this month.

St Helens Star: Jodie Whittaker as OrlaJodie Whittaker as Orla (Image: BBC MEDIA CENTRE)

The new pictures show Jodie Whittaker as Orla, Tamara Lawrance as Abi, Bella Ramsey as Kelsey, seen in the late stages of her pregnancy, Siobhan Finneran as prison chaplain Marie-Louise and Sophie Willan as inmate Maeve Riley.

St Helens Star: Told through the lens of three very different inmates, Time is a moving and high-stakes portrayal of life inside a women’s prison. Told through the lens of three very different inmates, Time is a moving and high-stakes portrayal of life inside a women’s prison. (Image: BBC MEDIA CENTRE)

As previously announced, the three-part series ias written by multi-award winning Jimmy McGovern (Broken, Cracker, The Street) and Helen Black, writer of the BAFTA-nominated Life and Death in the Warehouse, and is directed by Andrea Harkin (The Confessions of Frannie Langton, The Trial Of Christine Keeler).

Filming took place at St Helens Police station in May this year, with film crews parked up on Birchley Street car park as the series is set in a women’s prison.

 

St Helens Star: Trailers in Birchley Street car parkTrailers in Birchley Street car park (Image: St Helens Star)

St Helens Police station has a disused custody suite.

The empty cells and custody area mean the venue is regularly used for filming.

Among shows to use it as a location in recent years are Sky's Tin Star and ITV's The Bay.

Crews also recorded scenes for a major Paramount+ crime drama series - Sexy Beast - a prequel to the 2000 gangster classic Sexy Beast - in November last year.

Time series one is available to watch on BBC iPlayer now. Series two is coming to BBC One and BBC iPlayer this Autumn.

The use of St Helens as a destination for filming scenes has grown considerably in recent years.

The former Pilkington head office at Alexandra Park has seen film crews descend numerous times.

Earlier this month, the Star reported how scenes were being shot there for a film telling the story of Brian Epstein – the founder of The Beatles. The working title – which is subject to change – is Midas Man.

St Helens Star: The former Pilks head officeThe former Pilks head office (Image: Andrew George)

ITV drama Maternal was also filmed there as was Nolly, starring BAFTA award-winning star Helena Bonham-Carter as the title character.

And the office tower block - which is a listed building - was used in Sky's Funny Woman, starring Gemma Arterton.

Two years ago the Netflix hit Stay Close - starring James Nesbitt - used Dream in Sutton Manor as a key location - and last year land on Pilkington's Watson Street works was used as a set for the Disney +'s Secret Invasion, which is a Marvel Series with Samuel L. Jackson.

BAFTA nominated police drama The Responder was another show to use numerous St Helens locations as a backdrop, underlining that the town is proving an attractive destination for filmmakers.