Hambleden becomes set for BBC drama The Outcast

written by Ana on 19 October 2014

Filming has been taking place in Hambleden for a BBC drama set in the Forties and Fifties. The two-part programme is an adaptation of the best-selling novel The Outcast by Sadie Jones, who has also written the script.

The show stars Jessica Brown-Findlay, who played Lady Sybil Crawley in Downton Abbey, George Mackay, who was in Pride and Sunshine on Leith, and Greg Wise, husband of Emma Thompson. It is produced by Blueprint Pictures, which has filmed in Hambleden twice in the last two years.

The coming-of-age story takes place between 1947 and 1957 in the fictional town of Waterford. Filming took place on three days last week in the village square and at St Mary’s Church and the sports and social club, which was transformed into a Forties-style police station. Other scenes were filmed in Fingest. Muffin Hurst, who lives in the village, said: “It’s always exciting when there’s some filming going on. It can become a bit tiresome with road closures but they are very good in Hambleden at notifying residents of what is going on and it’s a small price to pay for living somewhere so beautiful.” Ms Hurst, who runs the Henley Children’s Theatre Group, said her six-year-old son, Woody, had enjoyed watching all the action. “He sometimes finds it hard to separate TV and film from reality, so it’s quite good being able to show him how things get changed and then put on screen,” she said.

A year ago, Johnny Depp filmed musical fantasy film Into The Woods in Hambleden. His 1999 film Sleepy Hollow was also shot in the village. Other films and television series to have been filmed there include Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 101 Dalmatians and Band of Brothers.

The Outcast is expected to be broadcast next year.

Leave a Reply