New ITV drama starring Martin Clunes filmed in Bristol

New ITV drama Manhunt The Night Stalker may be set in south London but look closely and you might spot scenes much closer to home.

The series that first airs on Monday and stars Martin Clunes was mostly shot in locations across Bristol, from the railway arches on Stapleton Road to A Bond Warehouse by the Floating Harbour, City Hall to Stoke Bishop.

The old Bank of England building next to St Mary Le Port Church by Castle Park was transformed into a London police station for the four-part drama, which is based on the diaries of DCI Colin Sutton (Clunes) and documents the true story of the police investigation into a series of rapes, sexual assaults and burglaries which took place in South East London between 1992 and 2009.

Filming on the series, which was produced by Buffalo Pictures, started in the city in October 2020 and went through to Christmas, with final shots completed in London.

Natalie Moore, of Bristol Film Office, said: “Big dramas like this bring much-needed jobs for Bristol’s strong crew base, which was in greater need than ever of new projects to work on when this shoot began in October, following the challenges of the preceding months caused by the pandemic.

“Filming also generates benefits for businesses in other parts of the local economy, for example hospitality, catering and transport. We were pleased to help the team find the best locations that suited their needs, to help them safely contain their cast and crew and carry out a Covid-safe shoot with protocols in place.”

Martin Clunes stars as DCI Colin Sutton in the new ITV drama filmed in locations across Bristol – photo courtesy of ITV

Locations including Berkeley Square, Victoria Street, Stapleton Road, Wine Street, Knowle Cricket Club and Henleaze Junior School were used for external filming, while driving sequences were shot along St Philip’s Causeway and Gloucester Road.

Residential streets that feature include:

• Stoke Bishop area: Roman Way, Branscombe Road, Kewstoke Road, Stoke Park Road, Reedley Road, Stoke Lane outside Zest Deli & Cafe
• St Paul’s area: Upper York Street, Portland Square, Lemon Lane, Wilson Street
• Easton area: Gaunts Ham Park, Abraham Close
• Westbury on Trym area: The Dell
• Lorain Walk in Henbury
• Somerset Road near Arnos Court Park in Knowle

https://twitter.com/BritBox_UK/status/1439968525070868485

Producer Jo Willett says that for many involved in shooting the drama, it was their first job under Covid-restricted conditions.

“Although Manhunt The Night Stalker is set in suburban South London, we decided to move the majority of our shoot to Bristol, with a few days at the end for some key London shots. It proved to be an extremely good decision,” says Willett.

“Bristol Film Office were extremely helpful and we were able to agree a key location, the old Bank of England building in the city centre, very early. Here our design team created a composite police station set. This meant that for three weeks of our shoot we were away from members of the public, in our own large interior space. Before that we had to film in various locations around the city, often at night, but moving between locations was far easier than it would have been in London, and without exception we found location owners helpful and understanding.”

The drama is a sequel to ITV’s critically acclaimed Manhunt, which followed the police pursuit of serial killer Levi Bellfield. The series was devised by Colin Sutton and writer Ed Whitmore. The executive producer is Philippa Braithwaite, the producer is Jo Willett, the co-producer is Evie Bergson-Korn, the director is Marc Evans. Ed Whitmore, who is also an executive producer.

Manhunt The Night Stalker begins on ITV on Monday at 9pm.

Main photo credit ITV

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