In the spotlight!
A year in the life of a stately home that’s featured in a host of films and TV dramas
Set in the stunning North Yorkshire countryside, Castle Howard is throwing open its doors for a new documentary that captures all the behind-the-scenes activity over the course of a year.
Starting with spring 2022, each of the four episodes follows a different season. Among the 200 staff who work there is Eleanor Brooke-peat, who’s curator of the collections at the sprawling property built in the 1700s.
‘The castle has such a rich cinematic history with series including Victoria,
Brideshead Revisited and most recently Bridgerton all being filmed here,’ says Eleanor, who’s seen curating an exhibition to display costumes featured in the shows.
‘A lot of people are coming now because of the Bridgerton factor, so we wanted to create something that will attract young and diverse visitors.’
Special events to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, a photo shoot with ex-bake Off contestants and plans to restore rooms destroyed by a devastating fire in 1940 also feature in the opener.
‘We have a £50 million “todo” list,’ says Nick Howard, who is the 9th generation of Howards to live at the castle with his wife, Victoria. ‘It’s vital we are always thinking up new ways to generate income.’