A BRADFORD barrister has revealed he provided the legal expertise for a new television drama which filmed court scenes in the city.

National Treasure, starring Robbie Coltrane and Julie Walters, was partly filmed in Bradford City Hall’s old court rooms.

Barrister Stephen Wood was called in to help the writers of the four-part drama bring as much realism as possible to the court scenes.

Mr Wood, 47, who has been at Broadway House Chambers in the city since 1991, said he received a call in January from the production company behind the programme asking him to help.

He agreed and cleared his schedule for the two weeks of filming at City Hall at Easter where he spent long days on set helping the writer, actors and production staff.

He said: “The writer wanted to get the court scenes as realistic as possible so I was called in and spent from 7.30 in the morning to 7.30 in the evening on set for two weeks while they filmed at City Hall in Bradford.

“I am one of those people who shouts at the TV screen when they have court scenes which don’t appear realistic.

“So I was able to suggest a few changes, such as the press reporters in the court scene should not be using tape recorders.

“Obviously there was some dramatic licence, but I think they did make it as realistic as possible.”

He praised the final product, adding: “This is going to win BAFTAs.”

National Treasure, which airs today at 9pm on Channel 4, sees Robbie Coltrane play Paul Finchley, one half of a much-loved comedy double act with Julie Walters playing his wife Marie.

He is not quite as successful as he once was, after a career that spans several decades, but is still a familiar face on TV. His life begins to unravel in the face of accusations of historic sexual offences from the 1990s.

The drama, by BAFTA-winners writer Jack Thorne and director Marc Munden, was filmed extensively across the region as a result of investment from Screen Yorkshire at locations including Bradford, Leeds, Wakefield, Harrogate, Scarborough and Hull.

Hugo Heppell, head of investments at Screen Yorkshire said: “National Treasure tackles an issue that is still painfully current to many people across the country.

“That it dramatises and humanises Operation Yewtree with such sensitivity is testimony to the exceptional creative talent that has come together to make this show, and we at Screen Yorkshire feel privileged to be involved in bringing it to the screen.”

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