It is already a popular filming location, but residents could be seeing much more of Buckinghamshire on the both the big and the small screen - as the council is setting up a dedicated film office to help production companies take advantage of the county’s rolling countryside and picture-perfect villages.

The brand new Buckinghamshire Film Office is being developed in collaboration with key partners and the film industry, including Buckinghamshire Business First (BBF), Buckinghamshire’s Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Pinewood Studios and Creative England - and will support production companies and film crews with information on possible locations, getting permits for filming and production advice and guidance.

The county and its picturesque villages is hugely popular for filmmakers - with shows like Midsomer Murders, Endeavour, Bridgerton, Afterlife and The Vicar of Dibley being filmed here, as well as films like The Imitation Game, X-Men, Bridget Jones’s Diary, Eden Lake, Harry Potter, Star Wars, Mission Impossible, Cinderella and My Cousin Rachel being shot here, and it provides a massive cash boost to the local economy.

The new film office will help drive further economic and social benefits, employment opportunities and a boost to tourism.

But the council also says it will help residents and businesses continue to benefit from filming and make sure sure any disruption it causes is minimised.

Recruitment is now underway for a dedicated Film Officer to develop the Film Office including streamlining support to production companies and crews, developing the website to make it easier to find and film at locations and venues and promoting the world-class filming opportunities Buckinghamshire has to offer within both the UK and internationally.

Clive Harriss, Buckinghamshire Council’s cabinet member for culture and leisure said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for us to get Buckinghamshire firmly on the map as one of the best places in the country to film - from one-off television dramas to international blockbusters.

“We are working together with our local partners to create a dynamic, one-stop unit to offer a quality and professional end-to-end service to production companies from around the world, boosting our economy and providing valuable skills development for the county’s workforce.”

The project has the support of Pinewood Studios, where international blockbusters have been filmed - including the James Bond films.

Supervising location manager, Emma Pill, whose credits include 1917, Spectre, Blade Runner 2049 and Cinderella added: “Buckinghamshire includes many great locations to film and a dedicated team with local knowledge will make it even better.

“This is exciting news for the county and the film industry as a whole. I look forward to working with the Buckinghamshire Film Office in the very near future.”

Applications are currently open for the Film Officer role and close on October 25 - apply at jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/job_detail/223379/