Bristol has been described as “a theatre of opportunity” for TV productions ahead of the first new drama of 2022 filmed entirely in and around the city hitting the small screen this weekend.
Six-part psychological thriller Chloe, featuring a cast led by Erin Doherty (The Crown), begins on Sunday. 
The team behind the Bristol-set drama, made by Mam Tor Productions for BBC One and Amazon Studios, spent 15 weeks filming in the city last year – contributing to the 225% increase in drama production in the city on pre-pandemic levels.
It was one of four dramas made at the same time in the city, along with Showtrial and The Girl Before also for the BBC, and The Long Call for ITV.
Other shows filmed in Bristol last year included The Outlaws, the comedy thriller made by multi-award-winning – and Hanham-born – writer and director Stephen Merchant, season two of Sanditon, Doctor Who: Eve of the Daleks and series three of A Discovery of Witches.
The Chloe production team set up headquarters at Bottle Yard Studios in Hengrove last spring, where sets were built for interiors, including lead character Becky’s flat, and a Bristol gallery location where key scenes take place.
Production offices, prop stores, make up and costume departments were all based on site, while the studios’ green screen was also used.
Bristol Film Office helped filming at a number of locations around the city including A Bond Warehouse near Cumberland Basin, which is the setting for a nightclub, M Shed on Princes Wharf, The Arches industrial estate in St Philips and Picton Street in Montpelier.
Other Bristol locations included the Harbourside, the Bristol Marriot Royal Hotel on College Green, the exterior of St George’s Hall on Great George Street, Bristol Beacon, the Royal West Academy on Queen’s Road, The Forge in Colston Yard, Bar 44 in Clifton, the Quay Street Diner and a private residence on Fernbank Road in Redland.
Around Bristol, filming took place at locations including Ston Easton Country Park in Somerset, Brean Down near Burnham on Sea, the Penny Brohn National Centre in Pill, Uphill near Weston-super-Mare, Walton Bay and a private home in Abbots Leigh.
Chloe producer Joanna Crow said: “Bristol is a city that carries drama in its blood. The city is a theatre of opportunity with ready-made stages in its gorges, docks, colourful streets and vibrant harbourside, robustly supported by both the dynamic operation at The Bottle Yard Studios and the post facilities at The Farm.
“Chloe has an idiosyncratic yet distinctively Bristol/South-West look and sound, but it’s thrilling story of obsession and grief is universally relatable.”
Like Chloe, gripping BBC One thriller The Girl Before was filmed entirely in Bristol last year, including at Bottle Yard and on locations across the city, assisted by the city council-owned Bristol Film Office.
Ms Crow’s comments echo those of Showtrial producer Christopher Hall, who last year said: “Bristol is extremely film friendly; terrific crews, a great production base at The Bottle Yard Studios, a thriving technical and creative community and easy access to a wide range of locations.
“It is no wonder that so many productions are finding their way to Bristol. I for one want to return as soon as possible.”
And The Outlaws producer Nickie Sault said: “I would return to shoot in Bristol in a heartbeat” when discussing the merits of the city as a TV production location.
Three years ago TV executive Douglas Rae described Bristol as the best place in the UK to film a drama after spending four months in the city shooting the six-part BBC TV production The Trial of Christine Keeler. He had previously made three series of TV drama Mistresses in the city.
Other productions filmed in Bristol in recent years include Pursuit of Love, War of the Worlds,
Senior Bristol film manager Laura Aviles said Chloe was another important high-end TV drama made and set in Bristol, with an intensely gripping, modern plot incorporating the timely theme of social media’s increasing prominence in our everyday lives.
“As is clear from the array of locations used in Bristol and the surrounding region, and the strong local crew-base that worked on the series, Mam Tor Productions found everything it needed on the doorstep of The Bottle Yard Studios, where it was able to base operations and build key interior sets.”
The production also took full advantage of Bristol’s rich cultural scene – from art to music – with Chloe including an original score composed by Will Gregory of Goldfrapp and featuring Adrian Utley of Portishead, along with original Artwork from Carl Melegari.
Chloe was created by Alice Seabright and stars Doherty alongside Billy Howle, Pippa Bennett-Warner, Jack Farthing, Poppy Gilbert, Lisa Palfrey, Brandon Micheal Hall, Alexander Elliot and Akshay Khanna.
Chloe begins on Sunday 6th February at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. It will be available to stream on Amazon Prime Video at a later date.
Pictured: Top, Erin Doherty as Becky in Chloe (photo courtesy of BBC-Amazon Studios-Mam Tor Productions)
