Bath is to play a starring role in the new contemporary detective drama McDonald & Dodds, which will premiere on ITV this Sunday, 1st March at 8pm.
The drama, which is set in Bath, is filmed in locations all over the city including Abbey Churchyard, Queen Square, Parade Gardens and the Bell Inn as well as locations in Bristol and the surrounding area.
Filming was co-ordinated by Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Film Office, which promotes the district as a film and TV location and helps productions to access public areas with the minimum of disruption to residents and businesses.
The drama pairs the wildly ambitious DCI McDonald with the shy, modest DS Dodds.
While McDonald has transferred from the mean streets of South London to leap up the career ladder, Dodds has happily languished on the shelf for most of his working life.
McDonald is a tough, driven, battering ram of a cop who cracks cases through sheer force of will; Dodds – the tortoise to her hare – is quiet, unassuming and enigmatic.
Thrust back into frontline action for the first time in a decade, he discovers a hidden talent for deciphering puzzles.
Councillor Paul Crossley, cabinet member for Community Services, said: “Bath may be best known on the big and small screens as the backdrop to period dramas, but McDonald & Dodds demonstrates it’s also the perfect location for a great new contemporary detective series.
“Bath is popular with film makers and each year we receive around 250 enquiries from various media companies. Encouraging productions to the area does have a positive impact which is why were delighted to welcome this large-scale production to the city.
“It promotes Bath to a wider audience and we estimate that last year filming brought more than £2 million into the local economy through spend on accommodation, food, local crew and purchases from other local businesses.
“I’m looking forward to seeing our outstanding city on the TV this weekend.”