Bristol locations play key part in new drama, Black Cake

11 February

Image of Frog Lane. Cast members can be seen walking down the street, holding umbrellas. The set is a London market in the 1970s. — Image caption,
Frog Lane was transformed into a London market in the 1970s

By Chloe Harcombe

BBC News

Bristol has played a key part in a new TV drama.

Areas of the city were transformed into 1970s Jamaica and London for the Disney+ series, Black Cake.

Bristol Film Office worked with the production team and the council to close part of Princes Wharf and Park Street whilst filming took place.

A spokesperson from the council said: "The business this brings in is great news for our film industry and wider economy."

The eight-episode series is an adaptation of Charmaine Wilkerson's novel of the same name.

Set over several decades and countries, it follows a family which is involved with a murder mystery.

Image of a vintage double decker red bus.

Bristol Film Office

A vintage double decker bus destined for Tower Hill featured in the series

For five days in September, Princes Wharf became Jamaica's Port Royal Harbour, with the famous vintage ship, MV Balmoral playing the part of a Windrush vessel ferrying passengers to England.

Frog Lane near Park Street also features in the series, as a Christmas market in London. Filming also took place at the University of Bristol's Clifton Hill House, the former Lloyds Bank building and Wellington Terrace in Clifton.

Image of the crew filming at night at Princes Wharf. Lots of people can be seen, as well as a monitor.

Bristol Film Office

The council's Head of Film said Bristol can "suit all kinds of international location needs"

Image of the crew filming at night at Princes Wharf. Lots of people can be seen looking towards a boat.

Bristol Film Office

The series takes place in the 1970s

Laura Aviles, Head of Film at Bristol City Council, said: "Bristol's preserved quayside is consistently popular with film and television productions seeking period dockside settings, with its unique combination of working cranes, steam railway, transit shed and, of course, the superb 1940's MV Balmoral.

"The fact that Black Cake carried out not one, but two large-scale outdoor shoots in Bristol really shows the confidence productions have in the film office and the fact that Bristol can suit all kinds of international location needs."