Where is The Sixth Commandment filmed? Viewers are enthralled by Timothy Spall's performance in the crime drama, but also curious about the show's backdrop.
Viewers have been praising the performances of the cast of BBC crime drama The Sixth Commandment, based on a chilling true story of harassment, gaslighting and murder. Some have been left wondering about the whereabouts of Ben Field now - the man who perpetrated the shocking crimes depicted. Although the series focuses on the murder of Peter Farquhar and manipulation of vulnerable Anne Moore-Martin, Field had a list of other potential suspects and victims.
As well as the gripping cast and storyline, some viewers have also noticed the backdrop to the series looks familiar. Although set in the Buckinghamshire village of Maids Moreton, the show was shot somewhere entirely different. Read on to find out exactly where The Sixth Commandment was filmed.
Where is The Sixth Commandment filmed?
The Sixth Commandment filmed in Bristol, Keynsham, Clevedon and Bath.
In Bristol, scenes were filmed in and around Blaise Estate, Flax Bourton Mortuary, South Bristol Crematorium, Portland Square, and St Anne's House. Street scenes were filmed in the suburb of Westbury on Trym in the city.
Wild Mercury Productions filming The Sixth Commandment for the BBC in St Anne's House, Brislington - Monday, August 8th, 2022. #crewloc #bristol #filming pic.twitter.com/rhZryzDE05August 8, 2022
One Twitter user suggested they also saw film crews using Abbot's Leigh Manor near Bristol as a location, writing "My late mother’s care home - Abbots Leigh Manor near Bristol - has just featured in BBC1’s The Sixth Commandment - thanks to eagle-eyed @HealthSafety50 for spotting."
My late mother’s care home - Abbots Leigh Manor near Bristol - has just featured in BBC1’s The Sixth Commandment - thanks to eagle-eyed @HealthSafety50 for spotting pic.twitter.com/xLka73haL2July 17, 2023
Executive producer Derek Wax said "I found it gripping that this took place in a small English village full of Christian values where people go to church every week and listen to sermons preaching morality, when in fact, what’s going on is deeply sinister and malevolent."
He continued "That idea of danger in plain sight is what's both compelling and terrifying about this story." Locations were scouted by Bristol's Film Office, who did a brilliant job making viewers believe the action was taking place in a small village setting, and recreating Maids Moreton and the surrounding areas.
How many episodes of The Sixth Commandment are there?
There are four episodes of The Sixth Commandment altogether. The first two episodes will air on July 17 and 18 at 9pm on BBC One, with the the final two episodes airing on the same days the following week.
Executive Producer Derek Wax had actually been a pupil Manchester Grammar School, where victim Peter Farquhar had been an English teacher. He said "I was never taught by him personally, but I remember him so clearly and knew how inspiring he was in the classroom. When the trial happened, I was riveted because I had such vivid memories of Peter as gregarious, sometimes quite fierce, but inspirational. It was very upsetting to hear the details of what happened."
He added "A little after that, I happened to be having a coffee with Brian Woods who runs the factual production company True Vision. I asked him what he was up to, and he told me they were making a documentary following the Thames Valley Police as they investigated the murder of a schoolteacher, and I realised it was exactly this story. We began to discuss it in detail and thought there might be an approach to the same story through drama, that would enable us to really explore who these people were in a rounded way, not just from the viewpoint of the police investigation."
The Sixth Commandment: Reviews
The critical response to The Sixth Commandment has been mixed, while the overall audience reaction has been very positive.
Nick Hilton from the Independent offered 2 stars, saying "Spall and Reid both give performances that beg the mercy of viewers, if not their captor. But Ben looms over events, immoral and unknowable. It has a gravitational effect, pulling the drama out of orbit. By the time the jury hears the evidence, the aspiration to justice for the victims has been replaced by the intoxicating propulsion of true crime. For a primetime show that started with so much promise, the dock is a rather tawdry place to end up."
However, Lucy Mangan from the Guardian disagreed entirely, offering the series a full five stars. She said "Ben murders so much before he kills anyone. And beyond him and his victims are all those who love them. Altogether it is as fine a piece of television as you will ever see. Clearly intensely researched and forged with love and respect, it also stands – and I hope their friends and families agree – as an equally fine memorial to Peter Farquhar and Ann Moore-Martin, in all their unsullied goodness."
One audience member wrote enthusiastically "Perfectly balanced, brilliantly acted and terrifying. BBC Drama back to its superb best. Timothy Spall is heart breaking and Eanna Hardwicke brilliantly on the path to a breath taking tour de force."
Another added "I was greatly moved by this drama, the story line has it all - themes of darkness and unrequited love. There are so many moments when our emotions are toyed with ,I would highly recommend watching this, but be prepared to have a hanky ready and to wish that justice is served."
For those who like to know where their favourite shows were filmed, The Summer I Turned Pretty filmed in some beautiful North Carolina locations, and we break down exactly where. Come Home filmed a little closer to home, and we also have the lowdown on this. Another one for Bristol, Before We Die filmed in some diverse locations around the city.
