Have you ever been watching a hit TV drama and thought: 'I'm sure I've walked past that building before?'
You aren't imagining it; Leeds has quietly become a powerhouse for television production, serving as the backdrop for some of the biggest global hits of the last decade.
From the rolling hills of the Dales to the gritty, industrial corners of our city centre, Yorkshire has long been a favourite of location scouts and directors.
But while many shows wear their Yorkshire heart on their sleeve, others use Leeds as a 'chameleon,' with our local landmarks doubling for everything from 1920s Birmingham to the streets of London.
Be it 1970s soaps to modern Netflix mega-hits, here are 17 essential Yorkshire-filmed shows every local should see, including 10 that were made right here in Leeds.
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1. Better (2023–Present)
A high-stakes thriller that puts Leeds front and centre. It follows a corrupt police officer (Leila Farzad) trying to find redemption while entangled with a local crime boss. Keep an eye out for familiar sights like the Corn Exchange, Bond Court, and the Queen's Hotel. | BBC

2. The Syndicate (2011–2021)
Created by the late, legendary Leeds-born screenwriter Kay Mellor, this anthology series follows groups of workers who win the lottery. Much of the filming took place in and around Leeds, capturing the city’s heart in landmarks like the Headingley suburbs. | BBC/Rollem Productions

3. Fat Friends (2000–2005)
Another Kay Mellor classic, this heart-warming drama followed a weight-loss group in Leeds. It launched the careers of James Corden and Ruth Jones and used everyday Leeds streets to tell incredibly relatable stories. | Getty Images

4. A Touch of Frost (1992–2010)
While set in the fictional town of Denton, much of this legendary detective series was filmed in Leeds. The "Denton" police station was located on Burley Road, and Seacroft Hospital often stood in for the local infirmary. | ITV

5. Peaky Blinders (2013–2022)
It might be set in Birmingham, but the Shelby family spent a surprising amount of time in Leeds. The production used City Varieties Music Hall (doubling as a picture house and an opera house) and Leeds Town Hall for pivotal scenes. | BBC/Caryn Mandabach Productions Ltd./Matt Squire

6. No Angels (2004–2006)
A cult favourite Channel 4 comedy-drama that followed the messy, hilarious lives of four nurses working in Leeds. Filmed extensively across the city, it perfectly captured the nightlife and energy of Leeds in the mid-2000s. | Channel 4