A film set and shot in Darlington, and starring Toyah Willcox, was premiered in the town’s Vue Cinema yesterday (Saturday, July 16).

Give Them Wings tells the story of a young man in 1989 who made disabled after contracting meningitis at just ten months old.

Give Them Wings was directed by Sean Cronin and is based on the life of a Darlington FC fan, Paul Hodgson, who became disabled following childhood meningitis.

Paul was elated after the culmination of hard work on behalf of the whole team working on the film, finally came to fruition.

The Northern Echo: Paul Hodgson, who wrote the film based on his life, and Daniel Watson, who played Paul in the film. Picture: STEVEN CURTISPaul Hodgson, who wrote the film based on his life, and Daniel Watson, who played Paul in the film. Picture: STEVEN CURTIS

Most of the film was shot in Darlington in 2019, with filming locations including Darlington FC and The Foresters Arms pub in Coatham Mundeville.

The Northern Echo: Paul Gough from BBC Radio Tees and Paul Hodgson, writer of Give Them Wings. Picture: STEVEN CURTISPaul Gough from BBC Radio Tees and Paul Hodgson, writer of Give Them Wings. Picture: STEVEN CURTIS

Read more: Toyah Willcox stars in film about disabled Quakers' fan to premiere in Darlington

Interior scenes of the family’s home were shot at a house in Bishop Auckland that had not been redecorated since the 1980s.

The Northern Echo: Daniel Watson played the lead role of Paul in the film. Picture: STEVEN CURTISDaniel Watson played the lead role of Paul in the film. Picture: STEVEN CURTIS

Paul Hodgson wrote the book and film inspired by his own life and said that watching it back for the first time was both “eerie” and “a bit odd”, however, he was delighted with how the film turned out.

The Northern Echo: The film will also be shown at Vue Cinema in Leicester Square on July 28. Picture: STEVEN CURTISThe film will also be shown at Vue Cinema in Leicester Square on July 28. Picture: STEVEN CURTIS

The film will also be shown at Vue Cinema at Leicester Square in London on July 28.

The film also stars Byker Grove star Daniel Watson, who plays Paul, and Bill Fellows who plays Paul's father, Norman.

Give Them Wings also won Best British Feature at the London Independent Film Awards in 2021.

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