Press Archive

This is Monmouthshire
April 20, 2006

All set for a fabulous film

GROSMONT is under the spotlight during the next two weeks – while a feature length film starring Damian Lewis and Michael Gambon is shot. The Shakespeare’s Cake film company has chosen the Monmouthshire village for the majority of the film, entitled The Baker, starring Damian Lewis as Milo the village baker.

The film, which is for general release, is a comedy with some romance, and it is hoped that a special showing of it could be held in the county, possibly at The Savoy cinema in Monmouth.

The crew arrived in Grosmont last Wednesday to take over the village. Most of the action was shot on the first two days at Gentle Jane, a former house which has been converted into a tea room.

The house is owned by Royal Gwent Hospital consultant Witek Mintowt- Czyz and his wife Linda, and has been painted to look like three separate cottages which include the bakery. Their own home at Alma House will be included in the filming, which ends next week.

The Angel Hotel in the centre of the village features, and it has been painted yellow and renamed The Daffodil especially for the film. It was the venue for a big party after the first day’s filming as a way of the film company thanking villagers for their tolerance and co-operation.

All the residents have been offered the chance of taking part as extras, and among those who are included are community councillor Mike Pullen who has been busy painting the properties for the film, and Jeanette Farr and her two children Eloise, 13, and eight-year- old Michael.

The manager of the Angel, Margie Barker will also be included. She runs the pub on behalf of the consortium of locals who bought it last summer to save it from closure.

Nora and Richard Brierly run the village Post Office, and as well as being the postmaster, Richard is also organist at St Nicholas’ Church, Grosmont. He said: ” The shop has been very busy during the filming.”

Cllr Bob Wilcox represents the village on Monmouthshire County Council and was first to be contacted about the film being shot there. He said: “We called a public meeting in January and there was general agreement. We are hoping for a donation from the company towards new heating for the church.”