GREETINGS FROM WITHINGTON HOSPITAL. It's 6.30pm on Friday 27th of October 2000, and I'm here on the set of Daddy Fox, the new feature film directed by Didsdbury-based film-maker John McCormack.

We are filming in a former ward now used as offices. It was kindly made available for us by the hospital authorities. We have some very famous stars in our midst - Lionel Blair, dancer, singer, tv personality and actor, is sitting over in the corner, chatting to Anita Dobson, one of the original cast members of BBC soap opera 'Eastenders'. The other actors present have starred in many well-known tv dramas and feature films.

Here's a small selection of the photos I've taken so far on the Manchester shoot. More production stills and featured actors and actresses will follow shortly.

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HERE ARE SOME of the faces I saw on Friday 27th of October 2000 during the filming of the hospital scenes in the film 'Daddy Fox'.

Anita Dobson, one of the original cast members of Eastenders plays the wife of 'Dodger', aka Tommy Boyle, who has acted in Coronation St, Hollyoaks and many other TV dramas.

Lionel Blair (top right), one of Britain's most celebrated tv and showbiz personalities, plays the doctor in these scenes. The director of Daddy Fox is John McCormack (top right and bottom left). He also wrote the screenplay.

ANITA DOBSON AND LIONEL BLAIR visited patients in the neighbouring geriatric wards at Withington Hospital, during a break from the filming of Daddy Fox

Lionel, who in mid October celebrated becoming a granddad, entertained both patients and nursing staff with his inimitable smile, and even did a twirl.

Anita was wonderful with the patients, some of whom appeared to be quite poorly. Others, including the 92 year old lady in the picture lower right, were very bright-eyed and recognised 'Ange' from Eastenders immediately.

THESE STILLS from Daddy Fox were taken during filming in the night club 'Fridays', at the Britannia Hotel, West Didsbury on Tuesday 24 October 2000.

In the picture top right is Jill Jephcott, who played a major role in John McCormack's first film 'The Van Boys'. Here she plays a rather drunken lawyer.

In the picture lower right is 'Daddy Fox' lead actress Tara Daniels, here acting out a dream sequence (also lower left).

Top left, playing detectives, are Colin Meredith (left) and Eric McNicholl (right), who also played a 'baddie' in 'The Van Boys'.

WITHINGTON HOSPITAL is located just of Princess Road, close to West Didsbury and developed from the former workhouse. Many of the buildings are from the Victorian era.

For many years it has been a major hospital in south Manchester, but with the move towards larger hospitals with more services on one site, its role is being changed to that of a 'community hospital', serving out patients only.

The accident and emergency unit closed in January 2000 - the nearest ones are at Wythenshawe and Manchester Royal Infirmary.

In October 2000, the hospital authorities very kindly made available a set of wards now used as offices for the filming of 'Daddy Fox', directed by John McCormack.

For more information on health services in the City of Manchester visit the Manchester Health Authority website www.manchesterhealth.co.uk

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