Made in Britain

About this Broadcast

Season 2, Episode 9

A look at how fields of yellow rapeseed flowers are turned into a kitchen cupboard staple, and a man who turned his passion for snowboarding into a company creating custom boards. Plus, the Bolton trainer factory with a racing pedigree, and how a Liverpudlian leather dynasty is producing traditional satchels that are sent around the world

HD subtitles 16x9 audio-description

Arts/Culture (without Music) Education/Science/Factual Topics Educational General

Cast & Crew

Ricky Tomlinson (Narrator)

Paul Stead (Executive producer)

Rob Kelly (Series producer)

Helen Thompson (Producer)

James Baudouy (Producer)

More Information

Did You Know..

Ricky Tomlinson (Narrator)

Born: September 26, 1939 in Blackpool

Best Known For: Playing Jim in The Royle Family.

Early-life: Born Eric Tomlinson in Blackpool on September 26, 1939, but has lived mostly in Liverpool. His father was a baker, while his mother had three jobs. He wanted to be a footballer, but playing the banjo in clubs and pubs became more important. After marrying, he moved to Wrexham and worked as a plasterer - which led to his involvement in a 1972 strike and a subsequent prison sentence. Upon his release in 1975, he set himself up as an entertainer, and in 1980 he had a small part in Alan Bleasdale's Boys from the Blackstuff.

Career: Tomlinson's big break came when he landed the role of Bobby Grant in Channel 4 soap opera Brookside. He stayed with the show for six years until 1988, after which he featured in Ken Loach's gritty drama Riff-Raff. TV projects since then have included Roughnecks, Cracker, Playing the Field and Clocking Off, while his film CV boasts offerings such as The 51st State and Mike Bassett: England Manager. He became a comedy icon 1998 thanks to his role in the comedy series The Royle Family. He opened his own cabaret club, The Green Room, in Liverpool in May 2010. He has reportedly donated £1million to the Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool.

Quote: 'I never had acting lessons so I'm still an old ham, probably playing myself most of the time.'

Trivia: A play entitled United We Stand tells the story of Tomlinson's incarceration. It toured the UK in 2014.