THE Grand Pier in Weston-super-Mare has been inundated with requests from film companies in recent weeks, with the BBC even recording one of its popular shows on the attraction.

The town has been propelled onto the world stage thanks to Banksy’s Dismaland, and the pier has recorded a big spike in visitor numbers during the corresponding period.

And, as an unexpected bonus, it has also seen an increase in enquiries from production companies.

Most recently the pier was used as a venue for the BBC’s Don’t Tell The Bride show – a programme which lets the groom organise a wedding without any input from his bride-to-be.

Mathew Hill and Jamie-Lee, from Weston, got married on the pier as Mathew wanted a pirate-themed affair near the sea.

The pier has also been used to film Channel 4’s Come Dine With Me, the BBC’s Saturday Kitchen, BBC Breakfast and Flog It!

Pier general manager Paul Charalambous said: “We have been inundated recently with requests from TV production companies who have been to film on location here, or are planning to visit us over the coming months.

“We hope this interest will continue for many years to come to help keep North Somerset in the television viewing spotlight.

“Weston and the surrounding Somerset backdrop have wonderful places to film and we are delighted to be on the top of the list as a venue worth filming.”

Film tourism is currently worth £3million per year to Somerset, and the pier’s management thinks that figure will grow substantially.

John Turner, chief executive of Visit Somerset, said: “We are delighted with this news that pier is being seen as a key destination for film crews and top TV shows.

“We want to increase (film tourism) to more than £5million by the end of 2018. With the pier’s help we are well on the way to making a success of that.”