Giant veg growers star in film in the vein of Hot Fuzz

Identical twin filmmakers from Somerset hope to put an "eccentric" town on the map with their new movie, described by some as "the next Hot Fuzz".

Swede Caroline showcases the sometimes weird and wonderful world of Somerset's giant vegetable growers.

Boris Thompson-Roylance, from Glastonbury, produced the film with his brother, Jack. Boris said he wanted the film to "celebrate" the "eccentric characters" who live in Somerset's countryside.

Based in Shepton Mallet, audiences should expect plenty of twists as the plot follows a marrow-grower trying to uncover what has happened to her stolen vegetable.

Man stood near bushes
Boris Thompson-Roylance worked with his identical twin to produce the new film [Swede Caroline]

Mr Thompson-Roylance said audiences could look forward to a similar mockumentary to the Office, with as much drama as Hot Fuzz.

Starring This is England's Jo Hartley, Shepton Mallet takes centre stage in the film, as the biggest scenes are based at the town's vegetable competition.

"It's celebrating allotment culture - their passion, their drive. We say in the film that the big competitors are the rock stars - it's the Glastonbury Festival for the big vegetable growing competitions," Mr Thompson-Roylance told BBC Radio Somerset.

"We have got these eccentric old men, countryside farmers, who have no idea what is going on and firing shotguns trying to get people away from their veg.

"Everyone wants a good British comedy - they don't come around that often. We take it as national pride and Hot Fuzz really captured everyone's hearts and we're hoping this is going to do the same."

Hot Fuzz legacy

Though based in Shepton Mallet, much of it was filmed in Winchester. Appearing in a big blockbuster film can really boost the town's tourism.

Siobhan Goodwin has been running Hot Fuzz walking tours for more than 15 years, and said the tours were more popular than ever.

Tourists travel hundreds of miles to visit Wells after watching Somerset director Edgar Wright's masterpiece.

"It's left a huge legacy for our city - not only because people come for Hot Fuzz, but, of course, it put us on the film location map.

"Since then we have had a number of big Hollywood films made in Wells. That's brought in a lot of money to economy."

Swede Caroline is showing at 80 cinemas across the country.

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