Burnley's Scott Dawson Advertising produces film starring "Celebrity Traitors' star Julie Hesmondhalgh
The short film, produced by Burnley-based Scott Dawson Advertising, encourages people across the country to Go All In and rediscover just how much reading is already part of everyday life, with filming taking place across East Lancashire.
Burnley-based marketing and advertising agency Scott Dawson Advertising has produced a short film starring award-winning actor and ‘Celebrity Traitors’ star Julie Hesmondhalgh as part of the National Year of Reading.
The creative team has been working with the acclaimed stage and screen actor on the new production, which encourages people across the country to ‘Go All In’ and rediscover just how much reading is already part of everyday life.
The short film sees Julie use poetry to explore the many different ways reading touches our lives, often without us even thinking about it.
And it proved to be a memorable shoot for the Scott Dawson team, with filming taking place across East Lancashire, from a library and local chippy to a hairdressers, restaurant, leisure centre, pub and park, while two members of the agency team even found themselves appearing on camera dressed as chickens.
Former ‘Coronation Street’ star Julie recently won the 2026 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role and has written two books herself – An Actor’s Alphabet and A Working Diary.
The production forms part of a national campaign for the National Year of Reading, encouraging people to think differently about reading and discover how it can connect with the things they already love. At the heart of the short film is the message that reading is everywhere and certainly isn’t restricted to sitting down with a classic novel.
Murray Dawson, Managing Director of Burnley-based Scott Dawson Advertising, said: “This was such privilege and a fun project for the whole team to work on and Julie was absolutely brilliant. There’s an important message behind it and we’re really proud to be part of a national campaign encouraging more people to read.”
The film premiered at a special private event at Haworth Art Gallery in Accrington before being released nationally as part of a collaboration supporting the National Year of Reading campaign, generating coverage on the BBC and ITV.
To find out more about the National Year of Reading and how to get involved, visit goallin.org.uk