Written by Tom Deehan on Dec 14, 2016. Posted in On Location / Production News

Liverpool locations doubled for London in BBC drama, Agatha Christie’s The Witness for the Prosecution

It may be set in London but the upcoming BBC adaptation of Agatha Christie’s The Witness for the Prosecution was filmed entirely in Northern England. In depicting 1920’s London, the Production utilised a number of locations throughout Liverpool and Manchester to capture the aesthetic of the era.

[The Witness for the Prosecution is] an incendiary courtroom drama that will keep you guessing right to the very end.

Executive Producer, Karen Thrussell

Fans of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them will recognise St. George’s Hall which features here as a prison both inside and out, while parts of the exterior are used to depict the streets of London.

The abandoned London Road Fire Station in Manchester can be seen as the bustling interior of a police station and as the office of John Mayhew, played by Toby Jones. Manchester Town Hall was also used for the Inns of Court, with Canal Street doubling as Limehouse in East London.

Venturing away from the two major northern cities, The Witness for the Prosecution also filmed in Chester and Morecambe. Mayhew’s house can be found in Chester’s Abbey Square, while The Winter Gardens in Morecambe is used as both a pub and a theatre.

Last Christmas, the BBC aired their own adaptation of one of Christie’s most popular stories, And Then There Were None. The three-part series, which was filmed in Cornwall and London, attracted an audience of over six million viewers upon its Boxing Day premiere.

Executive Producer Karen Thrussell states: “And Then There Were None made a huge impact last year, garnering great reviews… we’re thrilled to be reunited with Sarah Phelps as she takes on another iconic title, an incendiary courtroom drama that will keep you guessing right to the very end. The source material is so strong, and we hope the end result will be every bit as striking as And Then There Were None.”

Adapted by Sarah Phelps and produced by Mammoth Screen, The Witness for the Prosecution sees Leonard Vole (Billy Howle) framed for the murder of Emily French (Kim Cattrall), but the proceedings take a turn when Vole’s wife (Andrea Riseborough) decides to testify for the prosecution and not in defence of her husband. Toby Jones and David Haig also star.

High-end television productions that film in the UK can access a 25% tax rebate. A minimum spend of GBP1 million per broadcast hour is required for eligibility but there is no cap on the amount that can be claimed.

The incentive has attracted major shows such as The Crown and Game of Thrones, both of which currently operate on a budget of GBP100 million per season. The UK production industry has taken in more than GBP2 billion over the last two years, making it one of the most profitable business sectors in the country.

The Witness for the Prosecution will air Boxing Day, 9pm on BBC One.