Viewers were delighted to see Accrington mentioned in a family favourite animation.
Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl appeared on BBC One on Christmas Day and fans spotted a barge called the Accrington Queen – a reference to the famous 1951 production The African Queen. In the new rib-tickling film the duo are once again faced with their nemesis Feathers McGraw, the thief and master of disguise they last encountered in The Wrong Trousers.
James Emmett, from Accrington, said: “Accrington is a town with a history of two halves. From the dizzy heights of world famous Nori bricks, cotton making equipment and Accrington Pals to being the butt of the joke in the 1980s milk advert and the steady economic decline over the last 40 years. But it’s now on the up thanks to a huge effort around the Amazing Accrington campaign and it fills me with hope and pride to see this lovely town immortalised in such an iconic and truly British franchise like Wallace and Gromit.”
All films are filled with many Lancashire references, from Wallace and Gromit’s home being in Wigan to the townscapes that form the backdrop to their adventures.
Speaking to Lancashire Life, creator Nick Park, from Preston, said: “The films are all deeply rooted in British, and particularly Lancastrian, culture – there are lots of references from my own past. ‘I will often point out references or show the art department photos of Lancashire, so they know what I’m thinking of.
“I have been surprised by how universally it works. The films and these characters have been around quite a while and people, not just in Britain, really connect with them.”
Fans shared their thoughts of the barge appearance on X. One person said: “Best thing on telly in ages. I was in tears at some of the gags, especially the Accrington Queen, oh my ribs.”
James Emmett from Accrington took photos of a barge called the Accrington Queen which appeared in Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl aired on BBC One
Another social media user added: “Anton Deck was a good gag but the boat called the Accrington Queen was 10 out of 10.”
The plot for the movie is described on BBC iPlayer. It reads: “Wallace invents a ‘smart gnome’ that has a mind of its own – or does it? It falls to Gromit to take on the dastardly Feathers McGraw once more… or Wallace may never invent again!”
The Accrington Queen makes an appearance towards the end of the film with Feathers McGraw at the helm and can be viewed at the time 1:04:00 on BBC iPlayer. Vengeance Most Fowl is available to watch on BBC iPlayer and will be released on Netflix early in the new year.
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