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Take a ‘peak’ behind the

scenes of TV production

at Arley

Peaky Blinders

Arley was taken over by Birmingham gangsters in November 2015 after the BBC decided the hall would be the perfect home for Tommy Shelby in Series 3 of Peaky Blinders. Actors Cillian Murphy, Helen McCro-ry, Paul Anderson and Joe Cole spent a month filming here. Oscar-nominated Hollywood star Tom Hardy also had a day on set. Arley’s library was transformed into Tommy’s study and the opening wedding scenes were staged in the Drawing Room and The Gallery.

We were amazed at the attention to detail including a huge portrait of Tommy that included Arley Hall in the background. Walls were painted green (then repainted to their original peach after filming had wrapped), a dramatic fight scene was staged next to the Ilex Col-umns and horses were raced outside the hall. It was an amazing experience for everyone!

Coronation Street

Arley has enjoyed a great long-term relationship with the location manager and producers of Coronation Street. We have surpassed four weddings and a funeral and have now hosted five weddings and at least four funerals, including Deirdre Barlow and Kylie Platt. With so many high-pro-file occasions being filmed here - and everyone desperate to know how the story ends - we have to be on our guard for paparazzi and obviously have to keep any spoilers a secret. To see where the dramatic weddings took place for the likes of Steve McDonald and Roy Cropper head to The Chapel.

Disney’s Evermoor Chronicles

Evermoor was Disney’s first long-form, live action series filmed in the UK and they chose Arley to be Evermoor Manor. It was screened in 160 countries and is now in its third series. We always try to be as accommodating as possible for film crews and directors. For Evermoor’s first series this included digging up a large section of grass on the Furlong Walk and replacing it with turf so that a wicker statue could be set alight. We later put the quality

When the cameras roll..ARLEY has witnessed the magic of television on many occasions. This behind-the-scenes look at the filming will hopefully offer you a snapshot of what went on before, during and after the cameras rolled.

grass back down so our visitors, hopefully, couldn’t notice the difference. This being a family show, Disney covered up the modesty of the cherub that stands in front of the hall, but you can see it in all its glory today!

Poliakoff’s - Close to the Enemy

We have built up a strong relationship with several location managers in the north west who usually pop round, take lots of photographs and report back when scouting for a new location. However, no matter how perfect we seem to the location manager we know to not get too excited until the director has visited. Ste-phen Poliakoff looked around the hall for 90 seconds before taking his leave. A few weeks later, though, he was back with his art director who managed to per-suade him that Arley would be suitable for his BBC production ‘Close to the Enemy.’ When it was filmed the Walled Garden was used as Buckingham Palace’s garden, the Drawing Room in the Hall was used as a nightclub and featured a star turn from Alfred Molina. False walls were built and a green screen created the London skyline outside Arley’s windows.

Antiques Roadshow

Everyone at Arley enjoyed welcoming Antiques Road-show and agreed it was a lovely experience to be part of the programme. Two episodes were filmed in one day and included the story of a golden bracelet found hid-den in a wall in Arley Hall. Experts also identified one of the most valuable paintings ever seen on Antiques Roadshow. The episodes were seen by millions and re-sulted in extra visitors to Arley - advertising that money couldn’t buy!

Our Zoo

This was probably the most unusual filming experience of all. We knew it would be unique when we were asked if a camel could be brought into the hall? We were reas-sured that it would ‘have a litter tray’. Arley doubled up as Lady Katherine’s house where an auction was taking place. We also ended up with an igunana, penguins, a monkey and a python in the hall. Fortunately there were no accidents. We also hosted the circus in the first epi-sode and an exciting night shoot involving an escaped bear.

The early days of Arley on film..

The first records of TV crews at Arley start in the early 1980s with an episode of Shades of Darkness and scenes for an adaptation of Sherlock Holmes. Then there was Cluedo, which ran from 1990 to 1993. Arley posed as Arlington Grange and technicians who worked on the series are still coming back with productions today.

And the others..

The Forsyte Saga, Manchester United’s Christmas message, Gardeners’ World, Great British Garden Revival,‘Who Let The Dogs Out?’, It’s Me Or The Dog, Lose Weight for Love, Perfect Housewives, Watching the Detectives, Marrying Mum & Dad, Bargain Hunt, Flog It, Songs of Praise, Midwinter of the Spirit.

The Real Housewives of Cheshire Arley’s Olympia suite played host to a Bollywood-themed birthday party in The Real Housewives of Cheshire. Seema Malhotra booked Arley herself, but the film crews decided to follow her 45th birthday party celebrations, which included drinks on the Ter-race Lawn. Our Olympia suite had never seen anything like it before - there was an island bar, club room with DJ and a centrepiece of an elephant as well as a Bol-lywood drag act. Most of what was aired was filmed in one night, but earlier in the week some exterior footage was shot including some drone clips. Seema took centre stage when she danced with other stars of the show and there was the usual heated debate that is a regular occur-ance amongst the housewives.