ACTORS say Bolton is proving the perfect backdrop for the BBC's latest comedy drama.

Various locations in the town are being used for scenes in The Cup, a six-part series to be screened on BBC2 later this year.

The Reebok Stadium, Bolton Town Hall, Le Mans Crescent and Bolton West Services are all featuring in scenes.

Other parts of Bolton town centre, Horwich and Farnworth are also being used for the comedy, about selfish parents of under-11s football players who try to live their dreams through their children.

And Steve Edge, who plays pushy dad Terry McConnell, said the cast love being in Bolton.

The former Phoenix Nights star said: "It's good fun filming the show here and we have a laugh.

"I lived in Manchester for 15 years and have filmed in Bolton before."

Steve previously played truck driver and organ player Alan - one half of The Phoenix Club's resident band Les Alanos - in Peter Kay's hit comedy and is enjoying his return to the town.

"I like it up here and it's good for the show because it's an area where football is important," he added.

Producer Sue Vertue, from Hartswood Films, had a big part in the decision to use Bolton.

She said: "We wanted to find a one team town, in the Premiership, where football was quite important.

"Bolton just felt right. The Reebok Stadium is in a great setting, you can see it for miles and I think it's stunning.

"I'm a fan of the area."

A host of familiar faces will appear in the show, adapted from Canadian series The Tournament about an ice hockey team.

They include Jennifer Hennessy, from Drop Dead Gorgeous, Pulling star Tanya Franks and Casualty's Pal Aron.

Dominic Coleman appeared alongside Billie Piper in BBC Victorian Drama The Ruby in the Smoke.

In The Cup, he plays Vincent Farrell, who is horrified when his daughter begins playing football and wife Sandra becomes chairman of the club.

He said: "I don't think the story is particularly northern, it's a national issue, but it works well up here.

"It's nice that it has a regional element to it."

Last week, Rivington Mortgages managing director Keith Brian told how his Chorley New Road offices had been used for filming.