In one’s bingo, does one get a full mansion?
Upper-crust show’s stars stay in caravan park
It’s the latest upper-crust period drama that will deliver a tiara and ballgown blitz.
But the man behind new ITV series Belgravia has revealed how the product ion team came crashing down to earth when the cameras stopped rolling – and slept in a caravan site.
Filming took place in Edinburgh after creators picked the capital to double as the London district.
But they were forced to take over Hagg erst on Castle holiday park in Northumberland after struggling to find enough hotel rooms.
The series producer Colin Wratten told how some actors and crew ended up spending their spare time playing bingo and singing karaoke – a million miles from th es how’ s aristocratic characters’ antics.
Wratten, best known for his work on Killing Eve, revealed the stars – who were allocated hotels – were left jealous by their colleagues high jinks. He said: “Everyone was allocated a mobile home and were slightly dubious about it until they all moved in and then people loved it because there was a big central area to the park. There was bingo, karaoke, lots of different food outlets and a boating lake so when we had a day off, everybody was able to let their hair down a bit.
“It also felt like being at home because the mobile homes all had their own kitchens and lounges. It was quite delightful.
“The main cast were put in a hotel but ended up wishing they were with the crew because their hotel was new and there were a few teething problems, shall we say.
“A few didn’t have hot water for a couple of mornings.” Belgravia, starring Tamsin Greig, Harriet Walter, Philip Glenister and Alice Eve, is a tale of sex, lies and scandal set among the toffs of 19th-century London.
The six-part show, which starts tonight at 9pm, is an adaptation of Lord Julian Fellowes’ 2016 novel and each episode is though to have cost £1.5million.
Lord Fellowes also created global hit Downton Abbey. His latest drama – which has 65 characters and 2000 extras, is also tipped to be a huge success.
Wratten said bringing the book to life was a massive job.