AN East Lancashire council boss has had a sneak preview of the film based on the Take That songbook.

Ribble Valley borough leader Cllr Stephen Atkinson joined the cast and crew of the film 'Greatest Days', for a special pre-release screening in London.

He said the feature - shot in Clitheroe and the surrounding countryside last April followed by location trips to London and Athens - was ‘absolutely fantastic’.

Cllr Stephenson hopes the release of the film in the Spring will showcase the charm of Clitheroe and the surrounding countryside to a global audience.

The film is based on the stage musical, The Band, about a group of women who reunite after 25 years to see their favourite band.

Its adaptation follows the success of 'Juke Box' movies like Mamma Mia and features 16 of Take That’s greatest hits as well as new material.

Described as ‘a feelgood universal story of love and friendship’, the film introduces five schoolgirls – Rachel, Heather, Zoe, Claire and Debbie – who live in Clitheroe and have the night of their lives at a concert featuring their favourite boyband.

Twenty-five years later their lives have changed in a myriad of ways as they reunite to reminisce about their past.

The film is directed by multi-BAFTA-winning Coky Giedroyc and written by Tim Firth who holidayed in Clitheroe as a child and has fond memories of the area.

It stars Aisling Bea, Alice Lowe, Jayde Adams, Amaka Okafor, Marc Wootton, Lara McDonnell, Jessie Mae Alonso, Nandi Hudson, Carragon Guest and Eliza Dobson.

The film’s ‘boy band’ are Aaron Bryan, Dalvin Cory, Joshua Jung, Mark Samaras and Mervin Noronha.

Greatest Days was shot at locations across Clitheroe and culminated in a song and dance number in the town centre.

Cllr Atkinson said: “I was delighted to attend the cast and crew screening of Greatest Days and can say that the film is absolutely fantastic.

“It has laugh-out-loud moments and heart-breaking moments, and some amazing song and dance numbers.

“It is just the tonic we need as we negotiate the post-pandemic period and we are looking forward to working with the Greatest Days team to create a lasting legacy for the film in Clitheroe for years to come.”

Take That stars Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald are have a small cameo in the movie as buskers serenading passers-by at a train station in Athens, with their hit song ‘Shine’.

Council officers are now working on a series of activities to coincide with the film’s release.