Always a busy spot, the Village Hall is going to be probably the busiest it has ever been with the arrival of a BBC filming crew next week.

For nine weeks, from Monday March 17th until Friday May 16th, Strike Productions, commissioned by the BBC, will be using the QE2 Village Hall and Playing Fields for the filming of a new CBeebies television programme “The Football Fantastics”. Billed as a sitcom/pre-school comedy, there will be 10 episodes made in this, the programme's first season.

Villagers will, no doubt, have a very keen interest in how the programme is made and probably quite rightly proud that Bishop Monkton has been chosen as a location. While people understandably will want to see what is happening, it is important to remember that the production team has a job to do. There will be mountains of equipment and hustle and bustle everywhere and it is vital that everyone is aware of this.

Phil Goodier, chairman of the Village Hall Committee says “Strike Productions have paid for semi-exclusive use of the hall and while I recognise there will be considerable interest in what's going on, it is important that we give the team space, especially when they are filming”.

Also very important is the need to safeguard the young actors involved in the production and strict protocols have been established to ensure their safety. Therefore, there may well be times when users of the playing fields, walkers and onlookers are asked to observe these measures. Please remember these will be in place to ensure everyone's safety.

The plan for the initial siting of the catering marquee has been changed. It will no longer be erected on the field but will now be a unit on the car park, which will significantly reduce the visual impact of the filming.

The plan above shows the team's intended use of the car park. The squares marked with orange, red or blue lines are for permanent units that will remain in place for the duration of the filming. Spaces reserved for villagers, clubs and societies using the playing fields are indicated in yellow and these are specifically for use by these people and at any time. From Monday to Friday, other spaces will be taken by Strike employees, but this will not be the case at the weekends. On Saturdays and Sundays the spaces in the middle of the car park will be available for anyone using the hall or the playing fields.

There have been many months of negotiations between the production team and the Village Hall committee to ensure minimal disruption to residents. The fee paid for the hire of the hall, approximately £20k, will bring a massive boost to Village Hall funds, which will then be used to improve and extend existing facilities from which the whole village will benefit.

There has been some unavoidable relocation for some of the clubs who use the hall during the week, but full details of this have previously been published on this website. To remind yourself click

The events page of this website will clearly indicate any change of venue where necessary, as will the individual web pages for each club.

Many of the village's letting rooms and holiday cottages have been rented by members of the Strike Productions team, so don't forget a cheery Yorkshire-style Good-Day” when you see them out and about around the village.