Filming was a joy for stars of crime drama
ITV prime-time series Mcdonald & Dodds airs its first feature-length episode on Sunday.
The detective drama by Poldark producers Mammoth and DCI Banks writer Robert Murphy is set in modern Bath.
Jason Watkins and Tala Gouveia star as an unlikely duo thrown together to solve bewildering crimes.
Bafta award-winning actor Jason Watkins is best known for his performances in The Crown, The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies, Trollied and W1A.
Tala Gouveia has starred in Cold Feet, Before We Grow Old
and Click & Collect.
And the two stars of the show have revealed that Bathonians could be appearing on screen.
Both Jason and Tala found Bath a beautiful location to film in.
Jason told of the joy of filming in so many locations around the city – one day looking out over the city from Alexandra Park, another day filming in front of the Abbey.
“We were on the lower slopes of the Royal Crescent just as the light was fading one day. It was really beautiful,” he said.
Tala said: “Crowe Hall was one of the main locations and the beautiful couple who owned the house kept baking us cakes every day. And we never wanted for tea on set.”
Jason added: “Bath’s a very friendly, relaxing place. It has a lovely feel to it. It has such real character. I very much like the pace of life.”
Tala enjoyed channelling her curiosity about who was behind some of Bath’s grandest facades.
She said: “Working around Bath I got really nosy thinking who lives in these houses and how do they manage to live there and I think that shows through in the series.
“You do get nosy about people’s lives, so when a murder happens in one of these houses it adds an extra bit of intrigue.
“DCI Mcdonald is from south London, so it is a stark contrast for her.”
While they welcomed public attention, Bathonians’ excitement at the filming taking place could be troublesome at times.
Tala said: “We did a lot of location work and everyone was constantly wanting to watch.
“We did have to say at times, ‘We are really happy for you to watch but you are watching in shot!’
“We were asking them to at least not look at the camera.
“There was one time with a cordoned off crime scene where we did get away with it – as everyone would be looking anyway.”
As well as a nostalgic throwback to less dark crime dramas, Mcdonald & Dodds is characterled.
Jason said: “It is in a format and genre that people like. It’s got a wonderful ‘whodunit’ Midsomer Murders feel. But what it’s also got is a great central relationship between Dodds and Mcdonald. In that respect it is character-led.
“It also deals with current issues. With Tala as a young black woman, we touch on some of the misconceptions people about have about her.
“It has a sense of humour about it. It is both funny and engaging – I would always watch something like that. I’m amused and endeared by the relationship – that makes a very satisfying watch.”
Tala said: “We hopefully will get to do another series of this if people like it. We really want to.” ■ Episode one of Mcdonald & Dodds, which was originally entitled Invisible, airs on ITV on March 1, 8pm–10pm.