Film / News
Bristol shines in new Channel 5 period drama ‘The Forsytes’
The soaring pillars inside St Mary Redcliffe feature in an opening shot of the new series, The Forsytes, which premieres in the UK on Monday.
Produced for Channel 5 and Masterpiece, the show’s first season was filmed almost entirely in and around the city between May and August 2024.
“It’s just an exquisite building. It’s very gothic and it looks quite imposing on the outside, but inside it brings in the light really beautifully,” said Naomi Frederick, who plays Emily Forsyte, about filming at the church in Bristol.
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Several parts of the new Channel 5 series were filmed at the Bottle Yard Studios – photo: Mammoth Screen/ Masterpiece
Apart from the church, buildings on Vyvyan Terrace and Christchurch Road became homes for the Forsytes family, Blaise Castle Estate and Ashton Court Estate were the backdrop for walking and talking scenes and several parts of the city centre were transformed into late-Victorian period Soho streets.
The cast also includes Eleanor Jackson, a former student of Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, who plays Winifred Dartie in the show. Pleased to be filming in her hometown, Jackson said: “It’s really special to work locally and work with people you know as well.
“And also, you get to sleep in your own bed.”
Other than Jackson, hats worn by characters in the series were made by artist and councillor for Bristol Central Ani Townsend, and an estimated 75 per cent of crew members working on the show were employed locally from the South West region.
St Mary Redcliffe has features extensively in a trailer for the Channel 5 series – photo: Sean Gleason/Masterpiece/Mammoth Screen
Arnos Vale Cemetery’s Anglican Chapel was transformed into a boxing ring for the new series – photo: Mammoth Screen/Masterpiece
Justin Moore recalled wandering into the Downs a lot during any free time she had: “I went and saw the goats at Goats’ Gulley. I loved that. I was a regular at the Downs.”
Several parts of the series, adapted by screenwriter Debbie Horsfield and UK production company Mammoth Screen, were filmed at The Bottle Yard Studios in Bristol.
Describing the Bristol studio as a “home for home” for the UK production company, Mammoth Screen head of production Ronnie Castillo added: “The entire team (at Bottle Yard Studios) go above and beyond, ensuring we feel welcome and our teams are fully supported for the duration.”
Joshua Orpin and other cast members were spotted filming the show’s second season in Bristol in August – photo: Rob Browne
Castillo continued: “The studios are versatile, affordable and sustainable, within easy reach of some remarkable locations in Bristol which are very well supported by the Film Office.
“Bristol is also a hub par excellence of a talented crew. We can’t wait to return.”
Also featuring in the show are locations within Arnos Vale Cemetery, University of Bristol’s Goldney House in Clifton and Christmas Steps, which became the Parisian setting of 1880s Montmartre.
“It was an absolute pleasure to welcome them back for the making of this lavish new drama,” said Katherine Nash of Bottle Yard Studios about their “long-standing” relationship with Mammoth Screen.
She added: “We have hosted some stunning period dramas over the years, but The Forsytes team truly excelled themselves, with outstanding attention to detail, craftsmanship and finishing across all departments, including production design, costume, hair and makeup.”
The cast and crew returned to Bristol between June and August to film the show’s second season.
A re-imagination of John Galsworthy’s Nobel Prize-winning novel series, The Forsyte Saga, the show revolves around the life of a wealthy London family of stockbrokers.
Main photo: Mammoth / Masterpiece
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