The Crown will film in Valleys for new series
NETFLIX series The Crown will be filming in the Valleys this summer.
Filming has started on the third series of the show – and scenes will be shot in South Wales. The next series is expected to air next year.
Residents in Cwmaman, near Aberdare, have been written to telling them to expect film crews. Filming is also taking place in Ferndale and Big Pit.
Cwmaman’s Glynhafod Junior School will be used for at least part of the filming and a production company has also appealed for young actors to take part. One appeal is for two children, aged between seven and 12, with Welsh accents.
Big Pit National Coal Museum in Blaenavon is another location expected to be used during the shoot. It’s understood the filming relates to the Aberfan disaster in October 1966 when 116 children and 28 adults died when a colliery spoil tip collapsed.
The Queen visited nine days later. In total, she made four visits to the village. In 1973 she was there to open a memorial centre, again in 1997 to plant a tree in the Memorial Garden and most recently in 2012.
Her initial, and later, visits were welcomed by the community.
On her first visit, she broke down in tears as she spoke to relatives about their loss. During the visit, she promised she would return to open the school when it was rebuilt.
In 2012, she did just that during her Diamond Jubilee tour of South Wales. She sent a message on the 50th anniversary in 2016.
Netflix has more than 125 million global subscribers and this year is reportedly spending $8bn on content, almost five times the BBC’s annual spending on television.
The Crown is one of the biggest and most acclaimed shows on TV at the moment, having scooped awards around the world. It was released on the streaming television series in November 2016.
Series one and two covered the early years of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, from 1947-63. The lead roles of The Queen and Prince Phillip were originally played by Claire Foy and Matt Smith.
The third and fourth series will cover 1964 to 1976, with Olivia Colman playing the Queen and Tobias Menzies her husband, Prince Phillip.
The third series will cover Harold Wilson’s time as Prime Minister, with Margaret Thatcher and Diana, Princess of Wales, featuring in series four.
Helena Bonham Carter will be Princess Margaret in series three.
Images of her filming the latest series have been circulating.
Filming a disastrous meeting with former US President Lyndon B Johnson, she was caught in character at Hylands House in Essex – chosen for its similarity to the White House.
A spokesman for Rhondda Cynon Taf council said: “The council can confirm this filming will take place in Cwmaman during September, utilising the Glynhafod Junior School building which is being vacated due to the opening of the brand new £7.2m Cwmaman Primary School.
“External street filming will also take place in Ferndale as part of this production. The council has worked closely with the production company and is currently awaiting its final terms, which will include details of any traffic management required locally.”