Nottinghamshire County Council has confirmed its headquarters is being used for the filming of popular BBC TV production Sherwood. The drama, which aired its first series last year, was written by Ashfield-born playwright James Graham.
Mr Graham, who also created the Brexit: The Uncivil War drama in 2019, wrote and produced the six-part series, which explores renewed tensions in mining communities following a double murder.
The was greeted with critical acclaim in June last year and a second series has been filming across various parts of the county in recent days. Now the county council has confirmed its County Hall headquarters, in West Bridgford, is to be used by film crews this week.
Part of its car park is cornered off for filming teams and signs on the site’s grounds specify directions for ‘SH2 techs’. The Conservative-led authority confirmed filming will take place inside the council’s chamber for a meeting-themed scene.
Staff at the council could also be seen taking down real photographs of old councillors and replacing them with pictures of actors. Councillor Keith Girling is the council’s cabinet member for economic development and asset management.
In a statement, he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “We are delighted the production team behind the critically-acclaimed BBC drama Sherwood has chosen our headquarters as a location for its second series.
“In the same week the women’s Ashes takes place at the nearby Trent Bridge Cricket Ground and following the announcement Nottinghamshire will once again host a stage of the Tour of Britain cycle race, this truly is recognition we have what it takes to stage major sporting and cultural events successfully.
“Filming will take place in our chamber where a council-related scene will be shot as part of a wider plot for the drama. We are really excited to be welcoming the cast and support crew here over the coming days and we hope they enjoy their short stay with us.”
The first series of the drama focused on a Nottinghamshire former mining community which was rocked by two murders. It explored renewed tensions from the Miners’ Strike in those communities and the police ’s efforts to link the two.
Filming for the first series took place across various locations in Nottinghamshire, including in Ashfield where the series is likely to be set.
The official blurb described the show as: “Inspired in part by real events, set in a Nottinghamshire mining village at the heart of Sherwood lie two shocking and unexpected killings that shatter an already fractured community and spark a massive manhunt.
“As suspicion and antipathy build – both between lifelong neighbours and towards the police forces who descend on the town – the tragic killings threaten to inflame historic divisions sparked during the miners’ strike three decades before.”
Three-time BAFTA nominee Clio Barnard has been appointed as the second series’ director, while Lesley Manville and David Morrissey will reprise their roles.
The original series was set around 2014 and included flashbacks to the 1984 Miners’ Strike, but the upcoming season is to be set in the present day. A county council spokesperson added other locations being used by the series two film crews have included Nottingham Castle.
