Greater Manchester is being used for big-budget filming once again, as none other than the stunning Stockport Plaza is starring in a new Batman project.
Shared by local page community page, Stockport Online, this past Tuesday, you can see big, old-fashioned Hollywood spotlights hitting the front of The Plaza, a Gotham taxi cab, and plenty more happening just next to the Stockport Interchange.
As explained in the post, the filming outside The Plaza is said to be for the upcoming Clayface movie set within the Batman universe.
ADVERTISEMENT
Real name Basil Karlo (though there have been many alternatives over the decades), the DC villain has been a sparsely used one in live-action adaptations of the classic comic book characters, but has appeared in plenty of animated Batman material.
Liverpool was famously used for several location shoots for 2022’s The Batman by director Matt Reeves, which saw Robert Pattinson don the cowl for the first time and ultimately helped revitalise the DCU, with the new Superman film releasing earlier this year.
Filming in the North West has been happening all month, but it was only this week that we saw the Clayface set shift to Stockport for these most recent scenes. There has also been some confusion over whether it is for a TV series or a film, but as far as we know, no such show is currently in the works at WB.
You can see more images of how the area surrounding the building was transformed below:
ADVERTISEMENT
We never thought we’d see the Batman universe filming in Stockport, but here we are. (Credit: Eve Cox/Stop in Stockport via FB)
With its stunning Art Deco design, this is by no means the first time The Plaza has been used for high-profile filming, as it was only a few years ago that we saw the period-appropriate structure as a backdrop for Peaky Blinders.
So far, what we do know about the upcoming Clayface film is that the scenes filmed in SK were actually a fictional movie premiere set as part of the story, which is said to be a rare take on body horror by James Watkins, who also directed Speak No Evil, The Woman in Black and an episode of Black Mirror.
There is plenty of horror/thriller pedigree elsewhere in the crew, too; the screenplay comes from acclaimed writers Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini, with Welsh actor Tom Rhys Harries starring in the lead role. His particular iteration of the amorphous Batman villain made of, yep, clay is called Matt Hagen.
Other names attached to the project include Naomi Ackie, Max Minghella and Eddie Marsan. Set to release this time next year, just a few months after the new Supergirl movie, which is due to drop on June 26, 2026, it looks like Stockport could have played its part in a very big movie masterplan.
Man charged with rape of 17-year-old girl near Piccadilly Gardens
Emily Sergeant
A man is due to appear in court today after being charged with the rape of a 17-year-old girl near Piccadilly Gardens last month.
A 24-year-old Afghan man, who has been formally named by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) as Abdul Shinwari, of no fixed abode, has been charged with two counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault, non-fatal strangulation, and possession with intent to supply.
He was charged following reports of the rape of a 17-year-old girl on Hope Street, near Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester city centre.
The shocking incident happened at around 1:30am on Tuesday 14 July 2026, and specialist safeguarding officers have been continuing to support the victim ever since.
Shinwari was remanded in custody following his arrest, and is now due to appear at Manchester Crown Court today (25 August 2026).
There have been no further police statements on the matter at this time.
News of this incident comes after it was announced earlier this year that a new police hub was to set to be established in Piccadilly Gardens.
Local leaders said at the start of 2026 that their ambition for the year was to maintain a ‘high-performing’ police service by tackling crime and anti-social behaviour, and protecting residents and businesses along the way.
And part of this ambition was to increase police visibility in Piccadilly Gardens, which is a much-maligned part of the city centre, by launching a new ‘prominent’ police hub.
Race Across The World star Jo Gardiner dies just one year after co-star son
Daisy Jackson
A Race Across The World star from Manchester has died just one year after her son and co-star tragically passed away.
Jo Gardiner, who starred on the hit BBC series back in 2020, died after a ‘long and courageous battle’ with cancer, her family has said.
The 61-year-old physiotherapist appeared on the second season of the travel competition, racing across Latin America with her son Sam Gardiner, who was just 19 at the time.
The pair became a fan favourite as they bonded over their travels, and Sam gained confidence to explore despite his ADHD.
Tragically, Sam passed away last May at the age of 24, following a vehicle collision in Gatley.
Paying tribute to Jo, Studio Lambert and the BBC described her as ‘the matriarch of the Race Across The World cast family’.
In the tribute, they also sent ‘deepest and heartfelt sympathies to Jo’s son Charlie’.
Jo’s family shared in a statement: “She had a rare gift for making everyone around her feel more alive. She lived fully, fiercely and never did anything by halves.
“She was blessed with countless friends, drawn to her extraordinary magnetism. Somehow, each one felt as though they were among her very best.
Jo Gardiner, from Manchester, starred on season two of Race Across The World. Credit: BBC
“To us, she was more than all of these things. She was our family, our joy, our safe place and our absolute treasure.
“We know how deeply Jo was loved, and we take comfort in knowing that her laughter, her courage, her kindness and her wonderfully outrageous spirit will live on in the many people whose lives she touched.
“As we grieve, we ask for privacy, but we also ask everyone who knew and loved Jo to do exactly what she would have wanted: tell the funny stories, raise a glass, have an adventure, laugh loudly and live life to the full.”
Studio Lambert and the BBC shared: “On behalf of the Studio Lambert production team, the BBC and the whole Race Across The World cast, we offer our deepest and heartfelt sympathies to Jo’s son Charlie, and her wider family and friends.
“Following the tragic death of Jo’s son Sam last year, we paid tribute to how integral Sam and Jo had been to series two. Millions of people remembered their transformative journey across Latin America in 2020 and we hold that memory in our hearts as we fondly recall Jo’s passion for life, her kindness, her strength, and above all her utter devotion to Sam and her family.
“At the time of filming, Sam described his mum as amazing – and that is how we will always remember her.
“Jo became the matriarch of the Race Across the World cast family, she leaves a lasting legacy in the many lives that she touched, both through the series and beyond. It was a privilege to share her story and she will be deeply missed.”
Danny Jones -
11th September 2025 
