Bristol’s Bottle Yard film and TV studios has revealed its latest starring role - as the base for the third and final series of TV crime drama Broadchurch.
The high-profile show, which returns to ITV next week, was filmed at the studios and in and around Bristol last year.
Staff at the Bottle Yard Studios, which has been the base for productions ranging from BBC’s Poldark, Wolf Hall and Sherlock: The Abominable Bride to the E4/Netflix comedy horror Crazyhead and Sky 1 comedy Trollied, have been sworn to secrecy about the filming of Broadchurch until this week.
The production team behind the award-winning drama, co-produced by Kudos, Imaginary Friends and Sister Pictures, moved into The Bottle Yard Studios for nine months last year.
Filming took place at the studios and locations across Bristol, in addition to the show’s now familiar filming locations of Clevedon and West Bay, Dorset.
Bristol Film Office facilitated filming at council office buildings on Temple Street, Victoria Street and Whitchurch Lane - which double as newspaper and call centre offices – as well as Avonmouth’s Queen Street and Avonmouth Docks.
ProducerDan Winch said: “With our Broadchurch world well and truly established in the South West, Bristol was the perfect production base. Better still, The Bottle Yard not only enabled us the ability to house our production offices, studio and storage under one roof, it is also located brilliantly for access when filming in central Bristol or indeed the outskirts.
“The Bottle Yard team have been reachable and supportive every step of the way, and above all have made us feel incredibly at home in Bristol.
“When navigating your way through the many challenges of producing eight hours of scripted drama, it’s so important to weigh up every logistical aspect of the production, in order to give yourselves the best chance of achieving high standards.
“I can without a doubt say that our set up at The Bottle Yard helped us hugely and I very much hope to return there with work in the not too distant future.”
The Bottle Yard Studios site director Fiona Francombe added: “Broadchurch is a phenomenon in its own right and an exceptional title to add to our credits. It was an honour to have Dan and the team here at The Bottle Yard Studios and we’re glad to have delivered the space and the privacy the cast and crew needed whilst working on this highly anticipated final series.”
Bristol Film Office managerNatalie Mooresaid Broadchurch’s decision to film in Bristol reflected how strong the pull of the city was becoming.
“A major, established production like Broadchurch can find everything it needs in Bristol, move its base here from London and also discover new places to shoot from the excellent choice of locations we have on offer,” she said.
The eight-part series sees David Tennant and Olivia Colman reprise their roles as DI Alec Hardy and DS Ellie Miller, this time investigating a serious sexual assault. Cast additions include Julie Hesmondhalgh, Charlie Higson, Sir Lenny Henry and Sarah Parish.
Broadchurch is written and executive produced by Chris Chibnall (Malaterra, The Great Train Robbery, Torchwood) for Imaginary Friends and Jane Featherstone (River, Humans, Utopia) for Sister Pictures. Dan Winch (Indian Summers II, What We Did On Our Holiday) is the producer. It is directed by Paul Andrew Williams (The Eichmann Show, Murdered by My Boyfriend), Daniel Nettheim (Doctor Who, Humans, Line of Duty) and Lewis Arnold (Banana, Prey, Humans).
The series begins at 9pm on Monday February 27 on ITV.
Pictured: The cast of the third series of crime drama Broadchurch
