Locations in and around Bristol are again playing a starring role in a major TV series as the third and final series of international hit Sanditon returns to the small screen.
All three series of the lavish period drama, based on Jane Austen’s final incomplete novel, have been made in and around Bristol – giving the city’s film and TV sector another significant boost.
For season one, the impressive sets for the fictional seaside town of Sanditon, pictured, were built at The Bottle Yard Studios in South Bristol for London-based production company Red Planet Pictures.
These were transported across the city to the Brabazon Hangars at Filton – the future home of YTL Arena Bristol - for seasons two and three.
For series three, Bristol Film Office assisted filming at Bristol’s Georgian House Museum, which doubled as the London home, pictured below, of investor Tom Parker (Kris Marshall).
It is not the first time the six-storey townhouse, built in 1790, has been used for the show – scenes in series one were also filmed there in 2019.
Red Planet Pictures executive producer Belinda Campbell said: “We couldn’t have wished for a better location for Sanditon than South West England.
“The breathtaking coastline and unique locations offer something special to our audience, and we can’t wait for locals to spot them on television this summer.
“We chose Bristol’s Georgian House for the Parker’s London home because it was a truly authentic location and a remarkable place that felt exactly like stepping back in time…the real deal.”
For each series, the production team has also made the most of the South West coastline, filming at locations such as Clevedon, Weston-super-Mare, nearby Middle Hope Cove, and Brean Beach in Somerset.
Other filming locations used for series three include Neston Park, near Corsham, Wiltshire, and Sessions House in Usk.
Having entertained millions around the world with its charm, romance, risqué storylines and irreverent humour, series three of Sanditon takes audiences on one last journey to the picturesque coastal resort inhabited by the beloved characters that audiences have come to know and love.
Television audiences across the world have devoured the drama. On Masterpiece in the US, series three was the number three programme of the whole season with 4.8m viewers tuning in.
Series one to three have been sold globally to more than 190 territories, including Japan, Norway, Brazil, Australia, Spain and Israel.
All episodes of Series 3 and the full boxset Series 1-3 are available on ITVX.
Bristol’s TV production industry continues to go from strength to strength. An estimated £20.8m was generated by it in 2021-22 – a 22% increase on pre-pandemic figures and the largest contribution that filming-related activity has made towards the city’s economy in a decade.
Filming in the city was up by 10%, with 1,067 filming days in the city at the Bristol City Council-owned Bottle Yard Studios – where three new sound stages have recently opened – and/or on location assisted by Bristol Film Office, a council department that provides free support to productions working in the city.
Among productions filmed in the city were Am I Being Unreasonable?, The Outlaws, Chloe, Showtrial and The Girl Before.
All images courtesy of Red Planet Pictures
