Harrogate Borough Council

"Emmerdale" actor John Middleton will be exploring his home town of Harrogate in a television documentary which will be broadcast this month.

 

The actor has taken up his first presenting role on "Lights Camera Location", a series about places which have been used in famous film or television dramas. John remembers the time when Hollywood descended on Harrogate back in 1977, when the film "Agatha", starring Vanessa Redgrave and Dustin Hoffman, was shot in the town.

 

The film was a fictitious solution to the real-life mystery disappearance in 1926 of the world-famous crime writer Agatha Christie. John, who's best- known as "Emmerdale's" vicar, the Reverend Ashley Thomas, meets Margaret and 'Mac' Mackay, who are now 89 and 91 years old, but who were in their 60s when the filming took place. They were recruited as extras for several of the scenes. Margaret says "It was all very exciting even though we were just in the background. We did have quite a few chats with Dustin Hoffman when the cameras stopped roiling and he talked about how he loved Harrogate."

 

Presenting is a new role for Emmerdale actor John Middleton. "I was delighted to take up the challenge of presenting rather than acting. At first I was nervous about interviewing people but then realised it is really just about having a conversation, the only difference is that you are being filmed" says John who has been in Emmerdale for the past 12 years.

The films have been made by the Really Good Productions, a television company based in Chapel Allerton in Leeds.