Eternal Law sees angelic lawyers land in York (03/01/2012)
Eternal Law comes to ITV1 this Thursday (5th December) at 9pm. The new six-part drama series from Ashley Pharoah and Matthew Graham (Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes) tells the story of two angels who are sent to Earth in the guise of lawyers in order to help humankind. Moments after Zak and Tom's arrival in York, the peace of the city is shattered by a shocking act of violence. Eternal Law filmed throughout York and other parts of Yorkshire, and was supported with locations and crew by Screen Yorkshire.
Zak and Tom are plunged into a court case involving an estranged family and a newlywed. Zak is alarmed to discover that his past has come back to haunt him in the form of old flame Hannah English - much to the delight of his nemesis, Richard Pembroke. Cast includes Samuel West, Ukweli Roach, Orla Brady, Tobias Menzies, and Hattie Morahan.
The production secured Purey Cust Nuffield Hospital, empty since 2006, as the production base which helped ensure that the region hosted the television series. Eternal Law also filmed at a range of city centre locations in York - St Helen's Square, St William's College, York Minster, Stonegate and alongside the River Ouse. The production also spanned a number of other locations across North and West Yorkshire, including: Leeds, Kirklees, Wakefield, Richmondshire, Selby.
Here's what some of the actors thought about filming in York:
Samuel West, who plays Zak, said: “Filming in York was such a pleasure. York is an incredibly welcoming city. It can be very disruptive to do a major series in the middle of a city that small, but we felt very welcome and it was beautiful in every sense. The city is a major character in the drama.”
Ukweli Roach, who plays Tom, said: "York is a perfect depiction of the drama. It’s a very modern city but is very rich in history and culture with its cobbled streets, old buildings, and cathedral. Gradually over the three months we shot almost everywhere. When we weren’t filming we got to explore. I walked around the city walls and went on a boat ride down the river, the York Dungeons and the Jorvik Viking Centre."
Orla Brady, who plays, Mrs Sheringham, said: "I loved being in York. I lived in a sweet little cottage behind York Minster and cycled to work in the mornings listening to the wonderful bells ringing out. It truly felt like stepping back in time. I shopped at the outdoor markets, cycled out along the river on days off, lit a fire in the evenings and sat down to read. Plus there are cake shops. Oh the cakes shops! The original being Betty's, which again is a welcome step back to a time when no-one asks you to queue up for an overpriced coffee in a paper cup. Rather they elegantly sit you down, welcome you....and that's before we even talk about the cream cakes."
Eternal Law is a co-production between Kudos and Monastic Productions for ITV1. All episodes are written by Ashley Pharoah and Matthew Graham who are also Executive Producers of the drama with Alison Jackson and Jane Featherstone for Kudos Film and Television. Georgina Lowe produces the drama, and the directors are Adrian Shergold and Jamie Payne.
For further information: ITV Press Room – Eternal Law
