It may be April but Keswick town centre was transported back to Christmas.
A towering artificial festive fir went up in front of the Moot Hall accompanied by smaller trees, fairy lights and decorations around the entrance to the tourist information centre.
It all forms the backdrop to scenes for a new series starring Leon Harrop and Sarah Gordy, who play newly-weds Ralph and Katie Wilson, a couple with Down’s Syndrome.
They were last seen in The A Word which ran for three series between 2016-20, and was filmed extensively throughout Keswick, the Lake District, and Birkrigg Cottage, a holiday let at Newlands. Such is its popularity as an accommodation choice – it remains fully booked until November.
The A Word starred Max Vento as Joe Hughes, a child on the autism spectrum, with Christopher Eccleston as his grandfather, and won acclaim for the way it dealt with autism.
Opportunities on the programme have been offered to people who are deaf, disabled, autistic or neurodivergent, which is the term used to describe those who process, learn, or behaves differently from what is considered typical.
Ralph & Katie has been funded by ITV Studios and BBC Drama, and is running a six-month remote training scheme with DANC – the Disabled Artists Networking Community.
In the series Ralph and Katie are joined by Pooky Quesnel who reprises the role of Louise, Ralph’s mum, and now Katie’s mother-in-law. Other familiar faces are Nigel Betts and Sherry Baines who play Katie’s parents Steve and Clare.
There is also a welcome return for Matt Greenwood who previously delighted audiences as Tom. Supporting characters include Craig Cash, best known as Dave in The Royle Family and Dylan Brady of Coronation Street.
The spin-off series is directed by Bafta winner Jordan Hogg, who is disabled, and produced by Jules Hussey, and is breaking new ground in creating television opportunities for people with disabilities.
Director Jordan said: “We’re embarking on something that’s never been attempted in our industry, we’re changing the world.”
The show, of which there will be six half-hour episodes broadcast on the BBC later this year, features five new and emerging writers all of whom are disabled.
Amy Trigg, Annalisa Dinnella, Genevieve Barr, Tom Wentworth and Lizzie Watson, are working alongside Peter Bowker, lead writer on The A Word.
Mr Bowker said: “The writing team have delivered a series of scripts that are full of joy, humour and authenticity. It will be exciting to see the wonderful cast bring them to life under the direction of the force of nature that is Jordan Hogg.”
Ralph & Katie is executive produced by Bowker, Patrick Spence and Kathryn Pugsley (ITV Studios), Howard Burch (Keshet Productions) and Lucy Richer (BBC), alongside Avi Nir (Keshet Media Group), and Keren Margalit.
