Belgravia to Film in New Town

Belgravia, which is adapted by Fellowes from his own bestselling novel of the same name, is a Carnival Films co-production for ITV and EPIX. Alice Eve, Tamsin Greig, Philip Glenister and Harriet Walter have been announced to star.

Belgravia is a story of secrets and dishonour amongst the upper echelons of London society in the 19th Century. The story centres on events set in motion on the evening of the Battle of Waterloo at a society ball hosted by the Duchess of Richmond, involving the Trenchard family, whose lives change forever.

Carnival Films, producers of the six-part series, said Edinburgh will provide the “perfect backdrop” to Fellowes’ story, which will “see secrets unravel behind the porticoed doors of London’s grandest postcode”.

The largely untouched Georgian architecture of Edinburgh’s New Town will double for 19th century London. The New Town was built between 1767 and 1850, extending the city north to deal with overcrowding inside the Old Town walls and to prevent an exodus of wealthy citizens.

While the Old Town consists of a fishbone of closes and wynds off the Royal Mile, the New Town follows a simple axial grid system, with public gardens and large open spaces integral to the design. Large sections of the Old and New Town remain exactly as built, with the area designed UNESCO World Heritage status in 1995.

Along with New Town streets, Moray Place and Darnaway Street, the City Chambers and Parliament Square are also expected to be deployed when the drama is based in and around Edinburgh for several weeks in July.

Rosie Ellison, head of the city’s film office Film Edinburgh, said: “When the production team visited Edinburgh to scout locations, they immediately realised the architecture of the New Town is ideal for period dramas and fit the brief perfectly. The film-friendly response the filmmakers have received from the local community and city council couldn’t be warmer. We look forward to welcoming the crew to the city.”

Producer Colin Wratten, whose recent credits include Killing Eve said: “Edinburgh is an extremely film-friendly city, which provides the perfect backdrop to Julian Fellowes’ story of 19th-century society, against which intrigue and dynastic power struggles play out. In addition to our central Edinburgh locations, we have the privilege of using the majestic stately homes of Hopetoun and Manderston, which will become key characters in this fantastic event series."