Film Showing How GREAT Grimsby Is Premieres
It's to combat recent negative portrayals of the town through programmes like Skint and the upcoming Sacha Baron Cohen movie.
A new film has been made to show what it is really like to live and work in Grimsby.
It's been created by former MP Austin Mitchell to combat the negative press the town's received through the programme Skint and upcoming Sacha Baron Cohen movie.
It'll premiere at a Cleethorpes cinema this evening and feature local famous faces including actress Patricia Hodge, racer Guy Martin and Strictly Come Dancing stars Kevin and Joanne Clifton.
Mr Mitchell says this film's a more 'accurate' representation of Grimsby. He told Viking FM:
"Skint and Sacha Baron Cohen's film present a very depressing picture of Grimsby and that's not the real Grimsby, it's a lively and bustling town which is a very good place to live and bring up kids. We are trying to show that Grimsby has good prospects and bring hope back to the town instead of this negative, destructive image that these programmes have presented.
"The particular prospect that we've concentrated on is what will come to us from the development of the North Sea wind turbine industry. The prospects are very good and it's a case of cheering the town up and saying don't be depressed by these films and look at the future because that's good and a happy one.
"The thing about growing up in Grimsby is that you can do anything, you've got a firm base with which to develop so we've produced many famous people. Patricia Hodge came back for instance to look at the town as it used to be, we've had Kevin from Strictly Come Dancing so those kind of success stories will cheer people up. It's about telling people, you come from Grimsby, you can make it.
"I also want this message to reach out beyond just Grimsby and project the town's image outside the area. Development projects depend on what people think of a town and if they have a depressing image like the one Skint has provided then we don't get development, so it's meant for a wider audience.
"It's absolutely monstrous to take a town just because it's got the name 'grim' in it's title and satirise it as if it's a place of fat lady football fans who run naked around the football stadium. I think Sacha Baron Cohen should have an obligation to show this film alongside his film where it is shown."
We did try contacting Sacha Baron Cohen's management for comment, but didn't get any response.