Charting the history of television in the North of England, the Yorkshire Film Archive are delighted to be back on the film show trail with a specially curated screening at Pictureville, Yorkshire’s biggest independent cinema, based at the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford.

From the small screen to the big screen, we've delved into our vaults, with a little bit of help from friends at the BBC and ITV Archives, to take a look back at television programming in the region. 

The presented film show is part of a new project: ‘TV Time Machine’, a collaboration between three Northern film archives, the Yorkshire and North East Film Archives and the North West Film Archive, supported by Film Hub North with National Lottery funding on behalf of the BFI Film Audience Network.

Yorkshire and North East Film Archives Manager, Graham Relton said: 

“I’m really looking forward to heading back to Bradford and taking audiences on a whistle-stop tour of TV in the North.  I’ll be showing some old favourites together with plenty of newly unearthed footage, ranging from pop culture, the weird and wonderful – including local attempts at breaking world records – to the best regional news features and hard-hitting documentaries.  There really is something for everyone to tune into!”

Audiences can look forward to reacquainting themselves with iconic footage such as the BBC’s ‘Interludes’ – remember the Potter’s Wheel? – together with a selection of memorable programmes, including the star-studded opening night of Yorkshire TV and Michael Clegg’s myth-busting investigation into the famous Stott Hall farm on the M62.  Also featured is a wealth of local footage and news features, such as the election of Bradford’s first Asian Mayor and Yorkshire TV’s 1976 documentary, The Bradford Godfather.  

David Burton, Cinema Commercial Manager at the National Science and Media Museum added: 

“We’re thrilled to be hosting a special screening of TV Comes North: Bradford at Pictureville. The Yorkshire Film Archive have brought together some fascinating footage to look back at the history of television programme in the North and Bradford. The film has been specially tailored for our audiences and cinemagoers can look forward to seeing footage of prominent moments from throughout Bradford’s history as well as early footage of the museum.”  

Screenings take place on Thursday 19th January 2023 at 11:00 (Silver Screen), 16:30 and 19:30 at Pictureville, The National Science and Media Museum, Bradford BD1 1NQ.

Buy tickets:  www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/cinema/tv-comes-north-bradford