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TV / Film Locations

Film-makers, TV researchers, poets and authors have all been captivated and had their imaginations charged by the outstanding beauty of the landscape and coastline of West Dorset, as well as the spectacular historic houses and gardens. Over recent years, productions filmed in the area have included:

Thomas Hardy productions

The landscape of West Dorset is entwined with Hardy's novels, and with much of it remaining unchanged, it is the perfect setting for TV and film adaptations of his work. The ITV adaptation of 'The Mayor of Casterbridge' was screened in 2003 and starred Ciaran Hinds and Jodhi May. Hardy based 'Casterbridge' on the county town of Dorchester and this production was filmed at locations including Maiden Castle, Cerne Abbas and Charmouth. The 1998 ITV production of 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles' and the 1967 classic film adaptation of 'Far From the Madding Crowd' starring Alan Bates and Julie Christie were also filmed in the area.

Jane Austen productions

An adaptation of Jane Austen's classic love story, 'Persuasion', was filmed on the famous Cobb in Lyme Regis in October 2006 for an ITV production which was screened in early 2007. Sally Hawkins plays heroine Anne Elliot and Rupert Penry-Jones, who is best known for playing Adam in Spooks, plays Captain Frederick Wentworth. A BBC version of 'Persuasion' was also filmed in Lyme Regis in 1994 and a film adaptation of 'Emma', which starred Greta Scacchi, Juliet Stephenson and Gwyneth Paltrow, was filmed in Evershot and Dorchester in 1994.

'The French Lieutenant's Woman'

Lyme Regis was the home of local author John Fowles. In 1980 a film adaptation of his classic novel 'The French Lieutenant's Woman' was filmed in the local area and on the Cobb harbour where a cloaked Meryl Streep famously stood. Jeremy Irons also starred.

The River Cottage Series

The original River Cottage Channel Four series followed TV chef and green living enthusiast, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall as he explored West Dorset's farmers' markets, local produce and sustainable way of life from his smallholding near Bridport. The 2004 series saw Hugh and his family move onto a bigger farm to expand the River Cottage lifestyle. A more recent series 'The view from River Cottage' looked back at Hugh's life in Dorset and discovers the principles by which he has learnt to grow, cook and even live by.

In 2006 the River Cottage HQ moved to its new location in the Axe Valley on the Dorset/Devon border. River Cottage aims to promote a better understanding of the nature and origins of what we eat, to celebrate and contribute to the vibrancy of our local food community. At River Cottage HQ, you can experience superb food with a great story and a happy ending. They run a number of events and courses. For more information visit their website www.rivercottage.net

Other films and their locations include:

'The Guinea Pig', made in the '50s in black and white with Richard Attenborough, 'A Murder of Quality', made in 1991 from John Le Carre's book and 'The Browning Version' made in 1994 from Rattigan's story with Albert Finney and Greta Scacchi were all filmed in Sherborne.

Forde Abbey was the location for the 2003 BBC drama of George Elliot's classic 'Daniel Deronda' and was also used together with Mapperton House and Gardens for the 1994 film 'Restoration' starring Meg Ryan, Sam Neill and Hugh Grant. Mapperton was also the setting for the BBC adaptation of Henry Fielding's Tom Jones in 1997.