The second series of a multi-award-winning prison drama by Liverpool-writing royalty has received a major investment boost.
As the BBC unveiled the first look at the second series of Jimmy McGovern’s Time, funding from the Liverpool City Region production fund for the project has been confirmed through the Liverpool Film Office.
Currently filming across Liverpool, Halton, Wirral and Knowsley, the new three-part series is a moving and high-stakes portrayal of life inside a women’s prison, told through the lens of three very different inmates who are thrown together to face an unfamiliar world.
READ MORE: Two men named as gun suspects after 'loud bang' heard in street
The new series will star former Doctor Who actor Jodie Whittaker alongside the star of HBO video game adaptation The Last of Us, Bella Ramsey, alongside Tamara Lawrance, seen in The Silent Twins and The Long Song. It follows on from the smash-hit first series in 2021 starring Sean Bean and Stephen Graham, which was both a critical and ratings hit in the UK and went on to secure two BAFTA TV awards including Best Mini-Series in 2022.
Co-written by McGovern and Helen Black (Life and Death in the Warehouse), the second series is produced and distributed internationally by BBC Studios for BBC One and iPlayer (as well as Britbox North America) and is directed by Andrea Harkin (The Confessions of Frannie Langton, The Trial Of Christine Keeler).
Managed by the Liverpool Film Office, the LCR production fund was launched to increase the number, range and scale of productions made in the city region and is supported by £3m from the Combined Authority through Mayor Steve Rotheram’s strategic investment Fund. To date, a total of eight investments have been made including BAFTA Award winning Help, BAFTA nominated The Responder and The Ipcress File.
Cllr Harry Doyle, Liverpool Council cabinet member for culture, said: “Thanks to the universal acclaim the first instalment of this drama received, there is a huge amount of anticipation around Time 2 which has once again received vital support from Liverpool Film Office. Even though it’s a common occurrence to have camera crews on our streets pretty much every day of the year, it’s still a thrill to see the city region on the big and small screen, providing stunning backdrops for so many exciting productions.
“The production fund has been a huge success story for the city region and as well as helping to create award-winning dramas, it has supported local talent, created jobs, improved skills and had a positive economic impact across the city. With Scouse legend Jimmy McGovern involved once again in Time, this is sure to be yet another success for the fund.”
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, added: “Investments like this one demonstrate the depth of our region’s ambition to stake our claim as the UK’s premier filming location outside of London.
“Through my LCR production fund, we are helping to support incredible productions like Time, The Responder and Help – which in return have helped us to generate millions of pounds in spending for our economy.
“I have no doubt that our region has all the capabilities, facilities and skills to become the ‘Hollywood of the North’ and attract the thousands of well-paid jobs and training opportunities that it will bring to our area.”
Join the Liverpool ECHO's breaking news and top headlines WhatsApp community
READ NEXT
Updates as missing woman sparks huge police response near walking route
Met Office 'sudden flood' warning as thunderstorms to batter
