Tom Allen Goes to Town: TV show exploring 'wonderful Wakefield' to air on Channel 4

A TV show starring Tom Allen filmed in and around Wakefield City centre will premiere on Channel 4 tonight.
By Holly Gittins
Published 30th Dec 2020, 13:49 BST
Updated 30th Dec 2020, 13:50 BST

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Tom Allen Goes to Town was filmed inthe city last year, and sees the comedian spend a week living in Wakefield before summing up his experiences for a live audience at the Theatre Royal Wakefield - with a little help from Spandau Ballet's Martin Kemp. Photo: Channel 4Tom Allen Goes to Town was filmed inthe city last year, and sees the comedian spend a week living in Wakefield before summing up his experiences for a live audience at the Theatre Royal Wakefield - with a little help from Spandau Ballet's Martin Kemp. Photo: Channel 4
Tom Allen Goes to Town was filmed inthe city last year, and sees the comedian spend a week living in Wakefield before summing up his experiences for a live audience at the Theatre Royal Wakefield - with a little help from Spandau Ballet's Martin Kemp. Photo: Channel 4

Tom Allen Goes to Town was filmed in and around the city last year, and sees the comedian spend a week living in Wakefield, visiting attractions including the Cathedral and National Coal Mining Museum.

With the help of Tunji Jerome, who runs Caribbean restaurant Mully’s Kitchen, Tom was introduced to the city’s heritage as part of the rhubarb triangle, visited the Hepworth Gallery and even grabbed a meal the city's infamous Pie Shop.

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His experiences were then summed up in a live show for an audience at the Theatre Royal Wakefield, with the help of Spandau Ballet’s Martin Kemp.

Speaking on Twitter ahead of the show, Tom said he was “very proud” of the pilot, and described it as “a makeover for a local restaurant, a game show for local hotspots & a musical finale with local choir & colliery band!"

Familiar faces from shops and businesses across Wakefield, including the Black Rock pub, Wakefield Cathedral, Allums Butchers and Mr and Mrs C's coffee shop, were involved in the show.

The show was first announced in August 2019, when Tom tweeted that he was looking for a local family to help introduce him to the city.

Tom Allen Goes to Town will air on Channel 4 at 9pm today (Wednesday, December 30).

​Here after the show airs? Tell us what you thought on Twitter and Facebook!

Related topics:Channel 4Tom AllenCathedralNational Coal Mining Museum