Cut on the cut

We all know how beautiful and evocative our canals and rivers can be. That’s why more and more films and TV shows are featuring locations from the canals of England and Wales. Come on set with us as we take a closer look at some of the most recent and popular productions to use our uniquely beautiful locations.

Killing Eve

The BBC’s adaptation of Luke Jennings’ ‘Villanelle’ novels has been the breakout hit of the last few years, thrilling audiences and critics on both sides of the Atlantic. The jet-black comedy-drama exploring the twisted world of international espionage takes us to some of the most glamorous locations in Europe, including Paris, Barcelona and Amsterdam. Yet, as the main thread of the story plays out in London, our capital’s canals often provide a striking backdrop to the drama. In the latest series, we follow investigative journalist, Kenny, along the tree-lined towpath of Regent’s Canal, and witness an explosive scene on the banks of the Grand Union Canal as an angry Villanelle confronts her handler, Konstantin.

His Dark Materials

This magical, otherworldly drama burst onto screens in 2019. Adapted from Philip Pullman’s best-selling novels, the show follows the adventures of Lyra Belacqua as she battles dark forces in a parallel universe not too dissimilar from our own. Large parts of the action take place on the water, as Lyra teams up with the ‘Gyptians’, river-dwelling folk who spend their lives on canal boats. Her exploits take her along canals, wetlands and icy, arctic seas, eluding enemies at every turn. In reality, many scenes were shot at Sharpness Docks in Gloucester and on nearby stretches of the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal. With the magic of CGI, the area was transformed to look like London Docks, and the same trickery was used to sail Lyra on a Lightship moored in the dock, all the way to the frozen north.

Capturing the action on a light boat at Sharpness Docks (His Dark Materials)

The Irregulars

The latest television series set in the shadowy world of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, arrived on Netflix in March. The action centres around a ragtag group of troubled teens as they negotiate the seamy underbelly of Victorian-era London, using their unearthly powers to crack cases for Holmes and Watson. Filmed predominantly on location in the north west, the show features several shots from the Trent & Mersey Canal near Stoke-on-Trent, as well as a breathtaking apocalyptic harbour scene, filmed at the National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port.

The Eternals

October 2021 sees the hotly anticipated release of Marvel’s latest blockbuster, ‘The Eternals.’ With an ensemble cast including stars like Angelina Jolie and ‘Game of Thrones’ Kit Harington, the film follows a band of immortal superheroes as they fight to save humanity from a looming apocalypse. The bulk of the filming took place at London’s Pinewood Studios, but for several key action sequences, director Chloe Zhao moved production to Camden Locks. One particularly jawdropping chase scene sees the characters pursued along the Regent’s Canal towpath onto Camden High Street, surrounded by pyrotechnics, attack drones and exploding stunt vehicles.

That’s a wrap!

With over 2,000 miles of stunning canals, towpaths and locks, it’s no wonder that Hollywood has come calling. With new seasons of ‘Killing Eve’ and ‘His Dark Materials’ slated for release next summer, and new film and TV projects being touted all the time, we hope to see many more thrilling scenes play out on our canalsides in the months to come.