Hamburg Days: MetFilm School Leeds alumni join new BBC Beatles Drama

A new BBC drama is currently in production, exploring the formative years of The Beatles during their early 1960s rise within Hamburg’s club scene. Filming has begun in Germany and Liverpool on Hamburg Days, a series inspired by the autobiography of artist Klaus Voormann, who was closely connected to the band during this defining period and witnessed their early evolution first-hand.

Created by showrunner Christian Schwochow and head writer Jamie Carragher, the six-part drama follows The Beatles’ formative years in Hamburg’s vibrant live music scene. Schwochow, who previously delivered a masterclass at our Berlin campus, explores the band’s experiences, relationships, and the pressures that shaped their sound and set them on the path to global success.

MetFilm School talent across cast and crew

We are excited to announce that the production features a strong and expanding presence from MetFilm School, with alumni contributing across both cast and crew in key creative roles.

A MetFilm School Leeds graduate, Patrick Gilmore, who studied BA Acting for Screen, takes on a leading on-screen role as Pete Best in the series. Speaking about his experience on Hamburg Days and his time at MetFilm School, he shared:

“I’m absolutely delighted to be filming Hamburg Days, as it’s such a rare opportunity to tell the story of the early days of the Beatles. Being a lad from Liverpool to get his break in the industry by playing the role of Pete Best is beyond anything I could have imagined.

Ever since being cast, my Ma has been waking me up every morning with a Beatles tune blasting from the Alexa. More than anything, I genuinely feel proud and ready to make my family, loved ones, and mentors even prouder.

MetFilm School was the beginning of my screen acting journey, and I quickly developed a huge passion for both the degree and everything it had to offer. Over the course of my three years studying there, I was lucky to have incredible tutors who consistently supported and inspired me, showing me what could be possible. They also organised networking events and encouraged us to attend local film festivals, which massively helped me understand how to create my own brand and promote the work I’d made as an unknown artist.

The greatest lesson I learned from MetFilm School was to embrace every aspect of this industry. It taught me how to build the tools of my own craft, with a unique and guiding approach that goes far beyond acting alone.”

Other cast members include Rhys Mannion as John Lennon, Ellis Murphy as Paul McCartney, Harvey Brett as George Harrison, and Louis Landau as Stuart Sutcliffe. More recently, it was announced that Adolescence star Christine Tremarco, Trainspotting actor Jonny Lee Miller, and Sex Education star Asa Butterfield have joined the cast of the upcoming Beatles drama Hamburg Days.

Berlin creativity behind Hamburg Days

Our Berlin campus connection is also strongly represented through Tunde Aladese, who studied BA Practical Filmmaking at MetFilm School Berlin and now contributes as a writer on the series, reflecting the school’s continued influence across screenwriting and production.

Actress and intimacy coordinator Jennifer Ulrich, who recently delivered a masterclass at MetFilm School Berlin, now serves as the lead intimacy coordinator on Hamburg Days, bringing her professional expertise directly into the production.

With Hamburg Days now in production, the series brings together a striking mix of established industry talent and emerging creatives, with a particularly strong presence from MetFilm School. We can’t wait to see the series brought to life on screen.

Inspired by Patrick’s story?

Discover our BA Acting for Screen degree available at our Leeds campus. Based in one of the UK’s most exciting production hubs, this course gives students the chance to train in a working film environment surrounded by studios, production companies, and independent creators.