On set for the Beeb's new sugary-sweet comedy

It’s very chilly in the seaside town of Bridlington, which nestles on the edge of the North Sea in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Chilly, but somehow warm-hearted.

That’s because TV Choice is on set today, to meet the cast of upcoming BBC1 feelgood comedy, Sugartown. The three-parter centres on a rock factory (as in the sugary confection), which is fighting to stay afloat as the community’s last main employer. It stars Waking The Dead's Sue Johnston, South Riding's Shaun Dooley, Miranda's Tom Ellis and former Spooks star Miranda Raison.

Fittingly, it’s filmed in a real-life confectioners, John Bull Rock and Sweet Manufacturers, which – with its vast sugar smelting vats and over-powering waft of candy floss – would truly be Wonker-esque… if it wasn’t situated in a rather grey industrial park. The production team has set up camp here for the last few weeks, with much of the action taking place on the factory shop floor. In a neat touch, some of the John Bull staff have been included in the show, as background artistes.

With the wind whipping around outside, we catch up with Sue Johnston on the crew’s catering bus. The Royle Family star is playing Margery (‘I don’t think she’s got a second name’) who’s worked at the factory all her life. ‘She’s a bit of a tough old bird,’ says Sue, ‘but somewhere underneath there’s a bit of a heart.’

To get into character, Sue and some of the cast spent a day with the John Bull staff. As well as making her very own stick of rock, she also decorated an Easter egg. ‘I’m taking my handiwork to Liverpool Football club. Because I put “LFC” and “King Kenny reigns” on the egg, and signed it on the back with white sugar icing,’ she tells us.

The chocolatey piece of art is set to be raffled by Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, with the proceeds going to his 23 Foundation charity.

Meanwhile, expect to see Sugartown on BBC1 later in the year.

By Graham Kibble-White