BRADFORD College plays a major role in Kay Mellor's new TV drama, Girlfriends.

Classrooms at the new £10million ATC building, adjacent to the main college building on Great Horton Street, were transformed into offices of a glamorous magazine for the shoot, which took place in the summer holidays last year.

The six-part ITV series which began this week, stars Zoë Wanamaker, Phyllis Logan and Miranda Richardson as lifelong friends Gail, Linda and Sue.

Bridal magazine Adorable is at the centre of Oscar-nominated Miranda Richardson's storyline, when her character Sue faces age discrimination at work.

Girlfriends is the second TV drama in a year to be filmed in association with the Northern School of Creative Industries, Prime Studios and Bradford City of Film. Early in 2016 the college hosted a 14-week shoot for BBC1 drama Gunpowder in the Garden Mill Studio, where a 17th century set was built which appeared throughout the production. Gunpowder was broadcast in November, starring Game of Thrones actor Kit Harington and Liv Tyler.

Nathan Kelly, Head of Faculty, Arts and Creative Industries (HE) at Bradford College, said: “Working so closely with the production companies on campus has proved a unique opportunity for our students who are preparing for a career in the creative industries. Enabling them to be at the centre of the growth in productions in the region, supporting High end television drama, coupled with our industry led and designed HE courses provides our students with a set of creative skills that the industry really need. What’s even better is that the growth of film and TV industries in Yorkshire is outstripping every other part of the UK.”

Yorkshire-based film and TV production increased by 40per cent in 2015 to 2016, and Bradford is at the heart of this. Other TV dramas shot in the district over the past year include Peaky Blinders and Funny Cow, starring Maxine Peake.

As the industry continues to grow, so does the demand for locations and skilled labour, particularly craft and technical skills such as costume design, set design, production management and make-up. The Northern School of Creative Industries offers degree-level courses in film, media make-up and prosthetics, technical and production arts and music for creative industries.

Also in the cast of Girlfriends are Horsforth actor Matthew Lewis, who played Neville Longbottom in the Harry Potter movies, and former Coronation Street actor Chris Fountain, from Wibsey.

* Girlfriends is on ITV on Wednesdays at 9pm.