‘It’s always been my dream to work with her’ – Two York movie legends united on screen at last

Two of York’s greatest movie stars are finally united on screen in a new movie.

Dame Judi Dench and David Bradley are both in the film Allelujah, which had its European premiere at the BFI London Film Festival yesterday (Sunday).

And for David, it’s an ambition realised.

“Judi is somebody, I knew her family, we both come from York… It’s always been my dream to work with her and although we didn’t have any direct scenes together, it was a treat just being in the same screen,” he said.

Based on the stage play by Alan Bennett and written by Call The Midwife screenwriter Heidi Thomas, Allelujah is set in the geriatric ward of a small Yorkshire hospital, and tells the story of how people fight back when the hospital is threatened with closure.

It is directed by Sir Richard Eyre. He said: “It’s really important because the film is about old age, how we all look after old people, whether they be parents or grandparents, and how the country looks after the health of the National Health Service.”

Dame Judi, 87, who plays Mary Moss in the film, added: “And the debt we owe them (NHS staff) too for doing it.”

Speaking about her reasons for becoming involved in the project, Dame Judi said: “Richard was my reason. And Alan (Bennett)…there were a lot of friends in it which is always very nice, a great luxury when you’re filming to have a few mates around.

“Being friends, being with somebody who you admire who you work with, having the luxury of all being together, you don’t have to go through that process of getting to know somebody, we already knew each other so it was a great ease.”

David Bradley, best known for playing caretaker Argus Filch in the Harry Potter films, added: “Anything set in an NHS facility is bound to create some kind of conversation but I just think it’s a great story.

“I just hope people enjoy the characters living in the NHS hospital and the people who work there under very difficult conditions, which we know about, and I hope it brings open a lot of debate about something which is a very topical issue.”

Absolutely Fabulous star Jennifer Saunders is also in Allelujah, which is released on February 17 2023.