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York's historic city centre is buzzing with excitement as filming for a new Christmas movie, 'Merry Christmas Aubrey Flint,' has begun. The film, set to be released in 2026, boasts a star-studded cast including Richard E Grant, Celia Imrie, John Bradley, and Adjoa Andoh. The story follows a reclusive painter who specializes in model soldiers and has disliked Christmas his whole life. However, he finds himself helping with a care home production of 'A Christmas Carol,' which could change his perspective on the holiday.

On Monday, the crew took over Barnitts, a well-known department store in York, to shoot several scenes. Sally Ashton, who works at Barnitts, described the experience as 'a bit different than the normal routine of the day. ' She praised the film crew for being well-organized and friendly, even though the filming ran a little longer than expected. The store was used to store equipment throughout the week, and Richard E Grant filmed scenes among the shop's festive displays. The staff worked hard to make the Christmas area look amazing, and Sally said it would be exciting to see their efforts on the big screen. She even mentioned that the staff might plan a trip to the cinema when the movie is released.

To create the illusion of snow, the crew poured table salt outside the shop. Businesses on Colliergate received letters last week informing them about the filming. Jo Patton, owner of the Totally Awesome Toy Shop, noticed a group of creative-looking people outside his shop early Monday morning. He described the atmosphere as lively, and was surprised when John Bradley, known for his role in Game of Thrones, arrived in a festive outfit. Jo said that seeing a film star in York was not too unusual, as the city is known for unexpected events.

Filming continued on Tuesday evening outside an empty shop at number 5 Colliergate, which had been transformed into a miniature model shop. Despite the rainy weather, dozens of people gathered to watch the filming process. Rosa Burns, 23, found it fascinating to see the crew work, noting that they filmed the same scene several times and required complete silence from the crowd. Lucy Cordukes, from Country Traditionals, said that the filming had slightly affected business because people were more interested in watching the movie being made. However, she felt it was exciting for York to be featured in a Hollywood film and hoped to see the city on the big screen soon.

The filming has brought a sense of excitement and pride to York, with locals eager to catch a glimpse of the stars and see their city showcased in a major movie. As production continues, the anticipation grows for the release of 'Merry Christmas Aubrey Flint,' which promises to bring a touch of Hollywood magic to York's historic streets.