AN "unmissable" new drama about the Gunpowder Plot, largely filmed in the district, hits TV screens this autumn.

Game of Thrones star Kit Harington takes centre stage in BBC One series Gunpowder, running over three hour-long episodes, telling of the notorious attempt to blow up the House of Lords and assassinate King James I of England in 1605. The first episode airs on Saturday, October 21.

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Kit Harington plays Robert Catesby, the driving force who led a group of Catholics on the failed attempt during the State Opening of Parliament on November 5. Fellow plotter Guy Fawkes was given charge of the explosives.

Filming took place earlier this year at Bradford College and Keighley's Dalton Mills, where an elaborate 17th century set was constructed.

The cast also includes Hollywood star Liv Tyler, Peter Mullan, Mark Gatiss and Tom Cullen, best known as Lady Mary’s suitor, Lord Gillingham, in Downton Abbey, who plays Guy Fawkes.

Bradford’s City of Film team assisted on the Gunpowder shoot.

City of Film director David Wilson said: “It was a great team effort; working with Bradford College, Prime Studios in Leeds, and the use of Bradford's Garden Mill for a temporary studio build - and all the other support services who are now very responsive to film requests, such as local hotels and the council’s highways department.

“We know the local economy benefits from this type of production, but also the confidence in Bradford from the screen sector more generally, in that we are able to deliver with the right support for such projects.

"That is growing all the time. The Bradford Film Office has never been as busy.”

Sally Joynson, chief executive of Screen Yorkshire, said the filming of such major productions here makes a valuable contribution to the local economy.

“Over the last six years the making of film and television productions has grown faster in our region than anywhere else in UK, including London and the south east,” she said.

“The impact in the Yorkshire region includes 12,000 jobs - directly and indirectly - and a total turnover of £1.1 billion.

"There is also a spillover impact on the tourism industry, which we reckon amounts to about 1,000 jobs and a turnover of £120 million."

In April the T&A reported that Gunpowder cast and crew, including Kit Harington and Liv Tyler, dined in Saltaire bistro The Terrace during filming.

Mr Harington stayed in a Saltaire apartment during the four-month shoot and was spotted around the village.

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"He came in every couple of days, after filming, and he went to Fanny's Ale House and The Rosse pub too," said Tony Fouassier, general manager of The Terrace and Tallulah’s bar.

“It was good for local business."