IN PICTURES: My day behind the scenes with soap queen Gaynor Faye on a film set near Bridlington

Filming started last week for Jan Birchley’s first feature film. Jan, who lives in Flamborough, chose all filming locations to be local to the Yorkshire coast, such as Sewerby, Bridlington and Scarborough. She said that it is “a fabulous feeling” to finally be filming after the “mountains climbed” to secure funding.

The ‘Yorkshire grown’ film boasts serious star power, with soap icon Gaynor Faye starring and a score by Grammy-winning producer Eliot Kennedy. Rock legend Bryan Adams also features on the soundtrack, which will be released via his own label—an impressive backing for a small film from the Yorkshire coast.

No stranger to the area, Adams has performed in concert at both Dalby Forest and Scarborough Open Air Theatre in the past few years.

I arrived at the picturesque holiday cottage in Sewerby, the day’s film set, to a hubbub of activity.

My first behind-the-scenes stop was wardrobe, where I found clothing far more relatable than expected. Film sets in my head were places full of glitz and glamour, but this seemed far more down to earth and charming. The head of wardrobe described main character Geri as a ‘charity shop queen’ with most outfits sourced second-hand from sites like Vinted and eBay.

Gaynor came in wearing a fetching bright pink and camo dry robe, keeping warm in the typically Yorkshire drizzle.

She was full of smiles and joked that she left the sunshine back in West Yorkshire, her home patch.

While speaking to the BBC previously, Gaynor Faye said: “[The film] is Yorkshire through and through - it's fantastic, and I'm so excited to be working in my home county.

"It's a real blessing for me - celebrating women, celebrating Yorkshire, celebrating women of an age and having a laugh."

Gaynor posed for a few photos before being whisked off to wardrobe, and we went on to see the make-up room. It was full of bright lights and mirrors, with talented make-up artists transforming cast members in the seemingly magical chairs.

I was allowed to take a seat, surrounded by numerous products and brushes I had no clue how to use.

One of the make-up artists styled my hair, which I struggled to see as I was blinded by the Hollywood-esque lights around the mirror.

We then made our way to the Bridlington Links Golf Club, where we attended a special talk led by film writer and producer Jan Birchley and music producer Eliot Kennedy.

Jan said: “Getting Gaynor on board is an absolute dream come true - I can’t think of anyone better to play Geri! With her fantastic reputation and huge fanbase, we’ll be able to help even more women feel visible, valued and less alone.”

“It is a Yorkshire grown film but it is a film that has worldwide appeal. As a film, Hot Flash is a comedy but it is also a feel-good story.

“For me as a new film maker I have faced mountains to climb to secure funding and to make this film happen. But we are here!

"We are in production and it is such a fabulous feeling.

Eliot said: “I’m a Sheffield boy, so the idea of making a film that is about and set in my beloved Yorkshire- it was game over before I even read a script.

“What I love about this project is that it feels more like a musical because our amazing director had a great vision of how the music needs to play a part in the story telling of the film.

Eliot then played us some incredible tracks that will feature in the film, the recognisable tones of Bryan Adams blaring out of his phone.

Next was Shona McGarty, soap star in Eastenders and ‘I'm a Celeb’ favourite, who will be singing two songs. Finally he played a folk song, which will be the main character’s theme, sung by Rosalie Deighton

He ended his talk with: “We wanted this film to sound like Yorkshire.”

We ended the day by watching some exclusive rough cuts from the recent filming.. What struck me was how versatile Gaynor was in this role.

She immediately tugged at the heart strings as a single mum with a loving and accepting relationship with her son.

Then within two minutes she transformed into a strong willed, blunt and witty opponent in a sparring match with her ex.

The film is already on its way to putting the Yorkshire coast on the map, as well as highlighting women’s struggles with menopause, and its release is eagerly awaited.