David Morrissey visited Blackpool for inspiration for his role

Guests at the Odeon cinema watched Blackpool - a six-part musical thriller - before quizzing writer and executive producer Peter Bowker.

The drama stars David Morrissey as Ripley Holden, an arcade manager in the resort when it reinvents itself as a Las Vegas-style town.

Sarah Parish, best known as Allie in BBC One's Cutting It, plays his wife.

Other stars include John Thomson, Georgia Taylor, who played Toyah in Coronation Street and League of Gentleman star Steve Pemberton.

Blackpool is unlike anywhere else in Britain Peter Bowker

Mr Bowker said some inspiration for the series came from Blackpool's plans to become a casino-centred resort, if the laws on gambling are changed.

He added: "My first eleven holidays were spent in Blackpool.

"We'd go for a week in August and again for three days for the illuminations, so I felt that I knew Blackpool well.

Reinvention

"As anybody will tell you who has been there, it is unlike anywhere else in Britain.

"I was also interested in the way Blackpool has tried to reinvent itself again and again, and the Vegas industry seems to be another of those attempts.

"Whether it succeeds or not remains to be seen."

David Morrissey, who was born in Liverpool, visited Blackpool to speak to arcade managers and customers before filming began.