THE film and TV industry’s contribution to the coffers of UK PLC is said to be worth more than £1.5 billion a year.

Overall spending on UK screen content boosts our economy by £6bn and provides jobs for thousands of people.

And although London is at the heart of the UK film industry, Bradford is punching well above its weight.

As the world’s first UNESCO City of Film the city has become a favourite location for directors.

Bradford has doubled for London and Berlin in recent years and this week City Hall will become the backdrop to a star-studded new BBC drama, starring Hollywood icon John Malkovich as Hercule Poirot.

Bradford’s latest starring role is all credit to David Wilson and his tight-knit team at the Bradford UNESCO City of Film office, which is based at the University of Bradford campus. They have worked hard to confirm Bradford’s burgeoning reputation as a great production base for film-makers both at home and abroad.

And the city’s blockbusting performance shows no signs of slowing down.

The City of Film team opened an office in China last year and reports growing interest from overseas producers looking to set up international co-productions.

The Telegraph & Argus played a leading role in Bradford’s early cinematic success – helping screen a film of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in London on the day they took place – and we await the next exciting chapter in this story with great interest.