AN UPSURGE in the shooting of high-profile films and television programmes across St Albans is being heralded as a terrific boon to the city.

Filming is currently taking place at the abbey for the Working Title production of Johnny English starring Rowan Atkinson, Natalie Imbruglia and John Malkovich while several scenes of Foyles War, a Second World War detective series, were filmed in Fishpool Street last week.

Both productions come hot on the heels of Birthday Girl which was released nationally last week.

Set in St Albans and starring superstar Nicole Kidman as a mail-order Russian bride, the film was written, produced and directed by St Albans brothers Jez, Stephen and Tom Butterworth.

Other recent shoots in the district include Thunderpants and Mike Bassett: England Manager.

St Albans District Council's enterprise portfolio holder Councillor Malcolm MacMillan welcomed the increase in film production in the district.

He said: "There has been a whole number of films shot here lately and it does bring good publicity to the area as well as an economic boost.

"It's good news that St Albans is seen as a good area for filming. It improves the prestige of the city and helps improve tourism."

Councillor MacMillan also paid tribute to the city centre management team and the St Albans District Council tourism development officers for their part in the influx of production companies keen to film here.

"They have all worked extremely hard to present a professional and friendly face to the film industry and the proof of the pudding is in the increase in productions coming to St Albans."

Abbey spokesman Nick Bates said filming Johnny English at the abbey was helping towards the upkeep of the ancient building.

He said: "It's a marvellous opportunity to get the abbey and St Albans better known and we also get a good fee which given that we need £2,000 a day to pay for the upkeep of the building is an added bonus."

July 2, 2002 10:00