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The A Word is an acclaimed BBC dramedy, wrapped in the gorgeous landscape of Cumbria in the UK.
The production, revolving around the family of an autistic boy, is back for a third season after receiving very positive reviews for the first and second six-part series.
The cast features former Doctor Who stars Christopher Eccleston, Vinette Robinson (Sherlock), Morven Christie (Grantchester), Lee Ingleby (Inspector George Gently), and young actor Max Vento as Joe Hughes.
The A Word was filmed in the Lake District and Manchester. We have updated this report with the new season 3 filming locations. Contains no spoilers!
At the beginning of every episode in season one, the Polish crew picks up Joe at Honister Pass, located between Seatoller and Gatesgarth.
This has become the iconic location of the series, appearing multiple times during the show.
(You can open all the locations on Google Maps by clicking on the links below in the captions ↴)
Image courtesy of BBC — Map
The Fellside Café of The A Word
The Fellside, the stone barn which Paul converted into a gastropub, was filmed at High Bridge End Farm near Thirlmere (Keswick).
The High Tarn Fell Race from season 2 was also set here.
Image courtesy of BBC and Google Maps
Pictured below, an old Google Maps image of the cottage. During the shoot, some cyclists and walkers had occasionally popped in for a drink, leaving disappointed because this was not a real pub.
Image courtesy of BBC and Google Maps
The lake that appears in several shots in the first season was filmed at Thirlmere Reservoir.
There are also some scenes in season 2 recorded in the beautiful Lake Buttermere.
Image courtesy of BBC Maps: Thirlmere / Buttermere
The town is an amalgam of various locations. The main square was filmed in Broughton-in-Furness.
Image courtesy of BBC and Google Maps
Also, the house of Louise, Maurice’s music teacher and occasional lover is near this square in Broughton.
Image courtesy of BBC and Google Maps
A few scenes were filmed at The Black Bull pub in Coniston.
Additional filming took place in the town of Ambleside and Kendal.
Image courtesy of BBC and Google Maps
The old house is the Birkrigg Cottage in Newlands Valley near Keswick.
Studio shots and some interiors were filmed in the new TV production site Space Studios Manchester.
Image courtesy of BBC and Google Maps
The exteriors of Scott’s brewery for seasons one and two were filmed in the Ruskin Museum in Coniston.
However, it changed to the Grasmere Village Hall (pictured).
Image courtesy of BBC and Google Maps — Ruskin Museum / Grasmere
In season 3, the Pear Tree Primary School was filmed in the Ashgate Primary School in Manchester.
Image courtesy of BBC — Map
The clothing store from the fourth episode is the N Arnison and Sons, located in the centre of Penrith (Eden Valley). Image courtesy of BBC and Google Maps
Alison lives in a three-story house at Keepers Quay near the New Islington (Ancoats, Manchester).
Located close to the Cotton Field Marina and the Ashton Canal, this is a modern residential modular housing development (Urban Splash).
The Netflix series The Stranger was also filmed in the Grand Manchester area. You can also check out here all The Stranger filming locations.
Image courtesy of BBC — Map
The choir ‘Robin Bell Room’ rehearsal theatre is the All Saints Parish Rooms in Cheadle near Stockport.
Image courtesy of BBC — Map
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SEASON three of UK hit The A Word returned to screens earlier this month.
Christopher Eccleston and the rest of the cast have returned with the latest series shown on BBC One. This has been written by award-winning screenwriter Peter Bowker, and started filming in May 2019 in the Lake District and Manchester.
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Where is The A Word filmed?
BBC drama series The A Word was filmed in locations in the Lake District, including Keswick, Coniston and Thirlmere.
Talking about the locations that the show is filmed in, Phil McKay from Lakeside Castings said: “The filming has taken place around Coniston and Keswick… it represents a big chance for local people and it’s nice to have a bunch of extras from all walks of life.
«It’s good for them to get involved and have an insight of what’s going on in their village.
«It’s positive that the filming went ahead despite the floods that have affected so many people in the county, it gives them a boost.”
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Keswick
Keswick is a market town in the Lake District that is surrounded by mountains like Skiddaw.
It lies just 20 minutes from Junction 40 of the M6 and has been voted 9th UK destination in the 7th annual Travellers’ Choice awards for Destinations; the best historic town in the Landlove Magazine Awards 2015; and the winner of The Kennel Club’s most Dog Friendly town award.
Coniston
Coniston is a village in the Furness region of Cumbria, in the southern area of the Lake District National Park.
The village at the mouth of Coppermines Valley and Yewdale Beck which descend from the Coniston Fells — a historical location for ore and slate mining.
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Thirlmere
Thirlmere is a reservoir in the Borough of Allerdale located in Cumbria and the Lake District.
The reservoir is 3.5 miles long, 1.2 miles wide and 158 feet deep and was originally two smaller lakes.
The smaller lakes were then purchased in 1889 by Manchester City Corporation Waterworks and the area was dammed — leading it to become one large reservoir.
This process meant that the settlements of Armboth and Wythburn were submerged — with the only remaining building being a small church at Wythburn, which lies in the shadow of Helvellyn, England’s third highest mountain.
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Buttermere
Buttermere lake is popular among visitors to the Lake District thanks to its surrounding areas of natural beauty.
Footpaths run round the perimeter of the lake, towards the summits of Haystacks and Red Pike.
Filming in the Lake District was a deliberate choice, according to Christopher Eccleston, who plays Maurice in the show.
“We’ve gone for the dramatic backdrop,” he told RadioTimes.com.
“And we’re also saying, look, this isn’t just an urban problem. This happens to families all over, wherever you live.»
more filming locations
When is The A Word on the BBC?
The A Word series three continues TONIGHT (June 02, 2020) at 9pm on BBC One.
It will run for six episodes and air every Tuesday.
You can also watch it on the BBC iPlayer.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The A Word | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Genre | Drama |
| Created by | Keren Margalit |
| Based on | Yellow Peppers by Keren Margalit |
| Developed by | Peter Bowker |
| Written by | Peter Bowker |
| Directed by |
|
| Starring |
|
| Composer | Rob Lane |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 18 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producers |
|
| Production locations |
|
| Editor | Jamie Pearson |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Production companies |
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| Release | |
| Original network | BBC One |
| Picture format | 16:9 1080i |
| Audio format | Stereo |
| Original release | 22 March 2016 – 9 June 2020 |
| Related | |
| Yellow Peppers |
The A Word is a BBC television drama series, based on the Israeli series Yellow Peppers. The series follows a young boy and how his family cope with the revelation that he has autism spectrum disorder. Following filming in the Lake District from October 2015, a six-part series began airing on 22 March 2016. On 26 May 2016, the BBC announced that a second series of The A Word had been commissioned.[1] It premiered in the UK on 7 November 2017. The third series began airing on 5 May 2020.[2]
Synopsis[edit]
Five-year-old Joe Hughes displays clear signs of communication problems and consistently isolates himself by listening to pop music through large blue and black headphones. He has encyclopaedic knowledge of the songs he listens to and accurately sings along with the lyrics. His parents, Alison and Paul, seem oblivious to the disorder and wonder why Joe is ostracised by other children of the same age. However, it is later discovered by Joe’s grandfather, Maurice, that Alison and Paul have been taking him to hospital for his communication problems. Other family members know there is a problem, however, their attempts to intervene are met with obstruction from Joe’s parents. After originally believing Joe had hearing problems, their Ear, Nose and Throat consultant refers Joe to a specialist who diagnoses him as autistic.
The story then follows how the dysfunctional family, including Rebecca (who feels invisible), Eddie and Nicola (who are coping with their own relationship problems) and tactless grandad Maurice cope with Joe’s situation and their own apparent social disorders.
Cast[edit]
| Actor | Character | Role | Episode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Vento | Joe Hughes | a child on the autism spectrum | 1– |
| Lee Ingleby | Paul Hughes | Joe’s father | 1– |
| Morven Christie | Alison Hughes | Joe’s mother | 1– |
| Molly Wright | Rebecca Hughes | Joe’s half-sister | 1– |
| Greg McHugh | Eddie Scott | Alison’s brother | 1– |
| Vinette Robinson | Nicola Daniels | Eddie’s wife | 1–12 |
| Christopher Eccleston | Maurice Scott | Joe’s grandfather, Alison’s and Eddie’s father | 1– |
| Pooky Quesnel | Louise Wilson | Maurice’s music teacher and lover | 1– |
| Leon Harrop | Ralph Wilson | Louise’s son | 1– |
| Matt Greenwood | Tom Clarke | Rebecca’s best friend | 2– |
| Thomas Gregory | Luke Taylor | Rebecca’s boyfriend | 2–6 |
| Daniel Cerqueira | Dr Graves | Family doctor | 1– |
| George Bukhari | Terry Norris | Worker at Paul and Alison’s cafe | 1– |
| Adam Wittek | David Nowak | Worker at the Scott’s brewery | 1– |
| Tommie Grabiec | Pavel Kaminski | Worker at the Scott’s brewery | 1– |
| Abby Ford | Sally | Worker at the Scott’s brewery | 4 |
| Julia Krynke | Maya Petrenko | Joe’s babysitter | 2–5 |
| Lisa Millett | Maggie White | Joe’s speech therapist | 3 |
| Ralf Little | Stuart | Rebecca’s biological father | 5–6, 11, 14 |
| Jude Akuwudike | Vincent Daniels | Nicola’s father | 7– |
| Clare Holman | Grace Daniels | Nicola’s mother | 7– |
| Aaron Pierre | James Thorne | Rebecca’s boyfriend | 7–8 |
| Julie Hesmondhalgh | Heather | Joe’s teacher | 13– |
| Lucy Gaskell | Sophie Berwick | Worker at Paul’s Gastropub | 7–11 |
| Travis Smith | Mark Berwick | Sophie’s autistic teenage son | 7– |
| Sarah Gordy | Katie Thorne | Ralph’s wife | 13– |
| Nigel Betts | Steve Thorne | Katie’s father | 13– |
| Sherry Baines | Clare Thorne | Katie’s mother | 13– |
Production[edit]
Bowker drew on his own experiences and observations as a teacher and with his family to write The A Word.[3] Autism advocate Deborah Brownson served as an advisor on the production.[4]
Filming took place from October 2015 at locations in the Lake District, including Keswick, Broughton-in-Furness, Coniston, Thirlmere Reservoir, and at The Space Project studios in Manchester.[5][6][7]
On 24 May 2019, it was announced by the BBC, and then subsequently via press and social media publications, that a third series was in production. Returning cast members included Christopher Eccleston, Morven Christie, Lee Ingleby, Max Vento, Molly Wright, Greg McHugh, Pooky Quesnel, Matt Greenwood and Leon Harrop. Joining the cast as newcomers were Julie Hesmondhalgh, Sarah Gordy and David Gyasi.[8]
Episodes[edit]
Series overview[edit]
Series 1 (2016)[edit]
Series 2 (2017)[edit]
Series 3 (2020)[edit]
Broadcast and reception[edit]
BBC One began airing the first six-part series in a Tuesday 9pm slot, replacing Happy Valley, on 22 March 2016. SundanceTV acquired rights for broadcasting the show in America, and it premiered there on 13 July 2016.[10] A second series began in the UK on 7 November 2017 remaining in its Tuesday 9pm slot. A third series was filmed in May 2019 and the entire series was released on BBC iPlayer on 5 May 2020. On the same day it also began broadcasting in its usual weekly slot on BBC One.[8][11] BBC First airs the series in Australia. Disney+ picked up the programme for all three series across all of Europe, except the UK.[12]
Overnight figures revealed the first episode was watched by 4.7 million viewers and had a 23% share of the audience.[13] BARB later reported a consolidated figure of 5.91 million.[9] Reaction to the first episode was mostly positive among viewers. Many people have praised the show on social media, partly for the quality of the acting but also for the way it dealt with the subject of autism.[14]
Home media[edit]
Series 1 was released on DVD in September 2016, and series 2 in December 2017. The third series was released on DVD in July 2020.[citation needed]
Spin-off series[edit]
In August 2020 it was announced that a spin-off series Ralph & Katie, following the married life of the protagonists, had been commissioned by the BBC.[15] The six-part series, which included a writing team made up predominantly of people with disabilities,[16] was broadcast in October and November 2022, with all episodes available as a boxset on BBC iPlayer.[17] The series will also be available on Disney+ in some regions.
References[edit]
- ^ «BBC Drama announces three new commissions for BBC One and BBC Two». BBC Media Centre (Press release). 26 May 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ Tatum, Kris (24 May 2019). «Filming starts on series three of BBC’s The A Word in Cumbria». Times & Star. Workington, Cumbria. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ Ritman, Alex (22 March 2016). «Autism Drama Writer Talks BBC, Sundance’s ‘The A Word’«. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ Burns, Judith (29 December 2017). «MBE for author of ‘instruction manual’ for autism». BBC. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ «Filming begins on The A Word, new six-part drama for BBC One». BBC Media Centre (Press release). 26 October 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ «The A Word filming in Keswick». Time & Star. 15 January 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ Clarke, Tom (26 October 2015). «‘THE A WORD’ GOES INTO PRODUCTION AT SPACE STUDIOS MANCHESTER». The Space Project. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ a b «Filming commences on The A Word series three». BBC Media Centre (Press release). 24 May 2019. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ a b c d «Weekly top 30 programmes on TV sets (July 1998 – Sept 2018)». Broadcasters’ Audience Research Board. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ Littleton, Cynthia (8 January 2016). «SundanceTV Acquires BBC, Keshet Autism Drama ‘The A-Word’«. Variety. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ Kalia, Ammar (5 May 2020). «TV tonight: the third series of The A Word gets under way». The Guardian. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ Middleton, Richard (17 October 2022). «Disney+ strikes ‘Ralph & Katie’ & ‘The A Word’ deal across Europe». TBI Vision.
- ^ Johnson, Niall (23 March 2016). «BBC One’s autistic family drama The A Word opens with 4.7m». Mediatel. Retrieved 23 March 2016.[dead link]
- ^ Debnath, Neela (23 March 2016). «The A Word: Viewers praise Christopher Eccleston drama tackling autism». Daily Express. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ «BBC One announces Ralph And Katie, a spin-off of Peter Bowker’s hit drama The A Word». BBC Media Centre (Press release). 24 August 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ Hogan, Michael (9 October 2022). «Interview | Jordan Hogg: ‘In 15 years, I’ve never come across another disabled director’«. The Observer. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ «Ralph & Katie». BBC iPlayer. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
External links[edit]
- The A Word at BBC Online
- The A Word at IMDb
- The A Word at epguides.com
T
he A Word returns to BBC One tonight, delivering the third helping of the family drama.
The series following the Hughes clan, who rally round their youngest son Joe (played by Max Vento) after his communication problems are diagnosed as autism.
A lot has changed for the family now two years on – Joe is now 10, and is forced to divide his time between his mum Alison (Morven Christie) and his dad, Paul (Lee Ingleby) after they have chosen to divorce.
The Lake District makes a picturesque backdrop for the poignant drama, and here’s exactly where The A Word season three is filmed…
Where is The A Word filmed?
The six-part drama is set in a close-knit, fictional Cumbrian town which is in fact a composite of towns including Keswick, Coniston, Thirlmere, Buttermere and Kendal.
Talking about the locations that the show is filmed in, Phil McKay from Lakeside Castings told The Sun: “The filming has taken place around Coniston and Keswick.
“It represents a big chance for local people and it’s nice to have a bunch of extras from all walks of life.”
Keswick
Lake District — in pictures
The small market town is in the northwest of the Lake District; attracting serious hikers and climbers, Keswick is popular due to its close proximity to Skiddaw – England’s fourth tallest mountain.
The town itself is home to the Cumberland Pencil Museum and art gallery, as well as the Castlerigg Stone Circle just east of the town.
Coniston
This picturesque lakeside village is part of the Furness region of Cumbria, and is a good place to stay for those investigating the Tilberthwaite Slate.
It is also in close proximity to Coniston Water – the third longest lake in the District.
Thirlmere
17 underrated series on Netflix and Now TV
The reservoir, which was originally two smaller lakes, is in the East of the Lake District. One of the best spots to appreciate this area of natural beauty is at Steel Fell, at the southern end of the lake.
Buttermere
The Buttermere lake – its name taken for its close proximity to the dairy pastures, is popular among visitors to the Lake District thanks to its surrounding areas of natural beauty. Footpaths run round the perimeter of the lake, towards the summits of Haystacks and Red Pike.
Filming in the Lake District was a deliberate choice, according to Christopher Eccleston, who plays Maurice in the show.
“We’ve gone for the dramatic backdrop,” he told RadioTimes.com.
“And we’re also saying, look, this isn’t just an urban problem. This happens to families all over, wherever you live.
“I think it’s nice for a drama to be out of Manchester or Liverpool or London. And also it gives the sense of isolation. There’s a great deal of travelling Joe has to do and his parents have to do, which is true when you’ve got challenges with a child, you usually have to spend a lot of time in a car.”
The A Word returns tonight at 9pm on BBC One
Entertainment
BBC/Fifty Fathoms/Matt Squire
As going to the pub or out for dinner with friends is ruled out right now, there’s a serious need for good TV series. In April 2020 the BBC announced that the much-loved family saga, The A Word, would be returning for series three. The story picks up two years on and life in the Hughes household looks very different. However, the amazing scenery in the show remains the same and will make you wonder, where is The A Word filmed? After his parents’ divorce, Joe is trying to process living in two different places. His parents start to date other people and his family is spread out across the country but a lot of the drama is still set against the beautiful backdrop of the Lake District.
Much of The A Word is filmed on location in the Lake District, with Phil McKay of Lakeside Castings (an agency involved in the series) revealing, “The filming has taken place around Coniston and Keswick… it represents a big chance for local people and it’s nice to have a bunch of extras from all walks of life. It’s good for them to get involved and have an insight of what’s going on in their village… it’s positive that the filming went ahead despite the floods that have affected so many people in the county, it gives them a boost.”
Coniston is in Cumbria and is in the southern part of the Lake District National Park. Keswick is surrounded by mountains like Skiddaw and is known for its stunning, desolate landscapes. Both were affected by flooding in early 2020.
Although the Lake District was the chosen location for much of The A Word‘s filming, some scenes were shot in Manchester – more specifically, in Space Studios. Located east of the city centre, Space Studios is a purpose-built facility for large-scale films and TV production.
To say that series two of The A Word ended on a dramatic cliffhanger is an understatement. Paul (played by Lee Ingleby) was preparing to leave Alison (Morven Christie) as he felt they were already leading very different lives. In the final scene of the series it seemed Joe (Max Vento) had united the family and all was well, until Maurice (Christopher Eccleston) suddenly collapsed.
Season three picks up as the Hughes family attempts to put their lives back together. Paul and Alison have moved 100 miles apart and Joe travels between his parents, processing the divorce through the lens of his autism. Writer Peter Bowker said “It’s a joy to be revisiting the world of The A Word, to move the story of the Hughes family on, and to have the opportunity to expand our celebration and examination of diversity and humanity in all its myriad forms.”
The A Word series three returns on May 5 at 9p.m. on BBC One and the full boxset will be available on BBC iPlayer. You can also catch up with series one and two online now.