New look for Quiet Man

Lights, camera, action: Eamonn Holmes and Gerry Anderson

One of Hollywood's much loved classics, The Quiet Man, has been re-invented in Northern Ireland in aid of charity.

A new version of the big screen romance, which starred John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara, has been filmed for this year's BBC Children in Need Appeal.

However, unlike the two hour epic which was shot in County Mayo more than 50 years ago, the re-make lasts for just seven minutes.

The movie miniature was penned by BBC Northern Ireland's Gerry Anderson, who hosts his own daily magazine show on Radio Ulster.

He was inspired to put pen to paper after making a radio documentary for BBC Radio 4 celebrating the 50th anniversary of Ireland's famous romantic comedy.

Gerry wrote a new script based on the storyline but peppered with plenty of Northern Ireland humour.

The film features television presenter Eamonn Holmes as Sean Thornton, the part played by legendary screen actor John Wayne.

Pudsy bear: The Children in Need mascot

He is cast alongside Ballykissangel's Victoria Smurfit as Mary Kate - the part played by Maureen O'Hara.

Members of the public were invited to appear as extras and over the past few weeks Gerry has been accepting on-air bids on his show.

All the money raised from the on-air bidding will go towards the Children in Need appeal.

Gerry said: "I have long harboured the desire to write my own script for The Quiet Man and seized on the opportunity to pen a few lines in a quiet moment.

We have had a great time filming in Downpatrick and at the Ulster Folk Museum in Cultra, with plenty of laughs along the way

Eamonn Holmes

"The great thing is that people actually wanted to be a part of it and I was delighted we had such a large response to our on-air bidding and also that Eamonn and Victoria agreed to take the lead roles."

Filming took place this week at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum and Downpatrick Railway Museum in County Down.

Eamonn Holmes said he had always been a fan of John Wayne, known fondly as The Duke.

"I was delighted when I was asked to play the part in Gerry's version for this year's Children in Need," he said.

"We have had a great time filming in Downpatrick and at the Ulster Folk Museum in Cultra, with plenty of laughs along the way."

Both Eamonn and Victoria will be presenting during this year's BBC Children in Need live from the BBC's Blackstaff studios in Belfast.

Viewers can see just how the Quiet Man cast fared when the movie premiere is shown on the programme on Friday, 16 November.