Morris men set for small screen stardom
By Emilie Bradshaw
A group of Lancashire morris men are to feature in a new TV drama starring actress Judi Dench.
Producers called on the skills of Leyland Morris Men for a May Day scene for the BBC’s five-part drama serial, Cranford.
Nine members of the group travelled to London and spent two days on set where they got to meet the multi-award-winning actress.
Morris dancer Mike Bailey, from Lostock Hall, said the production team wanted a north west team, as Cranford is set in Cheshire.
He said: “Nine of us went down, including the team leader. Eight of us were dancers. The team leader was calling instructions and liaising with the producer.”
The drama is based on three novels by Elizabeth Gaskell and looks at ordinary human lives during the course of one extraordinary year, 1842, in the small rural Cheshire town of Cranford.
The first episode will be screened on Sunday.
Leyland Morris Men, originally formed in 1889 and reformed in 1967, are currently looking for new members. No experience is necessary.
They will be performing at Samlesbury Hall on Sunday afternoon as part of a Christmas Craft Fayre weekend.
Visit their website at www.leylandmorrismen.co.uk.