Portsoy and the Moray Firth Has Film Star Quality

Top UK gang series, Peaky Blinders, brought a slice of television drama to Portsoy last year when a stellar cast, including Cillian Murphy who plays Tommy Shelby and Finn Cole as Michael Gray arrived for filming, under the direction of Anthony Byrne,

It’s fair to say the entire Portsoy community has awaited the broadcast of the sixth and final series of Peaky Blinders with baited breath.

Portsoy’s part in the hit TV series brought a huge buzz to the town, and a welcome fillip for the local community and businesses during lockdown. It’s helped place Portsoy firmly on the Scottish film locations map and it’s hoped that this in turn will offer future spin-off opportunities for the picturesque Aberdeenshire town.

The Station Hotel Portsoy (http://www.stationhotelportsoy.co.uk/) has a signed photograph of Cillian Murphy, who plays Tommy Shelby, proudly on display, gifted after hosting film crew members over five weeks in early 2021.

As well as full hotel hospitality, staff provided harbourside catering, with hot hearty soups, pies and sandwiches much appreciated in the sub-zero filming conditions.

Hotelier Susan Cameron said: “They were hard working, busy, focussed professionals and frequently said that they appreciated the warm welcome they got in Portsoy. They loved our food and hospitality, and some returned to stay last summer.

“It was fantastic, as Peaky Blinders is such a successful show and there was a lot of media interest in them being in Portsoy. Peaky Blinders has a massive following and I expect lots of people will visit Portsoy as a result of filming taking place here.”

Peaky’s visit generated a flurry of press headlines like this spread in The Scottish Sun showing the actors on set:

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/6652414/peaky-blinders-cillian-murphy-scotland-season-six/

After five successful days of filming, a farewell message from the Peaky Blinders official social media account – Portsoy, you have been amazing – was shared by Grampian Online:

https://www.grampianonline.co.uk/news/peaky-blinders-filming-in-portsoy-finished-after-action-packed-friday-228127/

The massive effort to film parts of Peaky Blinders on the Moray Firth coast was carried out in adherence with Covid 19 restrictions, and in the thick of the planning was Portsoy’s Susan Rayne.

Susan was employed as location assistant, using her local knowledge and contacts to ensure the impeccable production effort ran smoothly, working closely with props, construction, sound effects and film teams and the local community.

Among her many duties were recruiting 28 local prop hands to assist in and around the set and sourcing local businesses to provide practical and professional support as necessary.

Susan said: “It was a real team effort and everyone in Portsoy got right behind it. The local lads and lassies who were prop hands all said how ace it was to be part of something like Peaky Blinders. For all this to have happened in Portsoy is just brilliant.

“When I look back, it was like a dream, and it’s almost like, did that really happen? It feels so surreal, but it was an incredible opportunity, unlike anything I have ever done before.”

The so-called Outlander effect – when Scottish sites have experienced a boom business due to featuring in the hugely popular Outlander books and TV series – has been well documented. Richard Thorne, development manager at Portsoy Community Enterprise expects the same could happen for Portsoy.

He said: “The legacy for the town has been valuable income at a very quiet time, a view into the world of TV, photos and memories of interaction with the stars, although socially distanced and through masks.

“It has put Portsoy on the film and TV location map that will hopefully mean that more will come and enjoy the atmosphere, the friendly welcome and the beauty and dramatic nature of the location.”

Portsoy wasn’t the only location on the Moray Firth to gain a share of film action in 2021. Macduff and Lossiemouth saw location filming for the Netflix royal drama The Crown, due to be screened later this year.

Turn the clocks back a little further and Portsoy was the backdrop for the 2016 remake of the classic Ealing comedy Whisky Galore, starring Gregor Fisher and Eddie Izzard.

In 1983 Pennan was the iconic setting for Local Hero directed by Bill Forsyth and starring Peter Riegert, Denis Lawson, Fulton Mackay and Burt Lancaster.

It all points to the Moray Firth region offering incredible settings as well as community buy in for television and film makers, with a warm welcome assured to those who wish to follow in the footsteps of the stars.

David Urquhart, chairman of Portsoy Community Enterprise (https://portsoy.org/) said: “We’re proud that Portsoy was chosen as a location for Peaky Blinders. This isn’t the first TV or film production to choose Portsoy and there’s no doubt that Portsoy’s rich scenery, historic location and a supportive community give the area a special charm.

“In fact, taken with what’s happened in the wider area, we’ve shown how we can work to deliver what it takes to support cast and crew to deliver excellent results. We’re hopeful that the natural beauty of our location and the can-do attitude of our people will lead to further exciting collaborations in the future.”

David chairs the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival (https://stbfportsoy.org/) which received a photo taken by Peaky Blinders director Anthony Byrne and a message of support from the cast and crew ahead of its virtual alternative event, Ahoy Portsoy, last summer.

Ian Tillett, manager of Portsoy Sail Loft (https://www.portsoysailloft.org/) and Portsoy Links Caravan Park (https://portsoylinks.org/) added: “Anything that brings visitors to explore our beautiful part of Aberdeenshire is a plus, but something of the scale of Peaky Blinders, which has a massive following, is incredible.

“Whether a fan of the crime drama or not, we always have a friendly welcome to all visitors, whether they have been to stay with us before or are discovering the area for the first time on the back of seeing it portrayed in Peaky Blinders.”

Peaky Blinders can be viewed on BBC iPlayer and Netflix.