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
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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
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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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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.
The A Word has returned to BBC One, two and a half years after it last appeared on our screens.
The drama, which follows the life of autistic schoolboy Joe Hughes and his family, kicked off its third season two years after the events of season two.
That series ended with Joe’s parents, Paul and Alison, splitting up, and at the start of season three we discover they have divorced and are living 100 miles apart.
Joe, now 10, will have to learn to deal with this, as well as the possible trial of a brand new addition to his wider family.
The series, which is written by award-winning screenwriter Peter Bowker and stars Christopher Eccleston (Doctor Who), Lee Ingleby (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban) and Morven Christie (Grantchester), is set in the North West of England.
The filming takes place close to home, both in a studio in Manchester in in various parts of the Lake District.
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.”
Filming locations
Broughton-in-Furness
Broughton-in-Furness is a small market town which is home to just over 500 people. According to the 2011 census its population ranks 7,721st out of the 7727 towns in the UK.
It is near the River Duddon and Duddon Mosses, which is a place of interest for scientists who research deer, lizards, adders and barn owls.
The central obelisk in the town square was constructed to mark the Jubilee of King George III in 1810.
Coniston
Coniston is a village in Cumbria around 40 miles north of Lancaster.
It grew in popularity as a tourist location during Victorian times, thanks partially to the construction of a branch of the Furness Railway, which terminated at Coniston railway station.
It was once home to Donald Campbell, who broke four world water speed records in the 1950s.
Keswick
Keswick is so old there is evidence there was even a prehistoric settlement there. These days the picturesque market town has a population of just over 5,000.
It used to be an important mining town and i a popular tourist spot, partially due to its proximity to Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite Lake.
It boasts one of the oldest surviving cinemas in the country, The Alhambra.
Thirlmere
Thirlmere is a reservoir in Cumbria surrounded by fells.
It provides Manchester with its water thanks to a dam which was constructed during the 19th Century, and the 96-mile long Thirlmere Aqueduct.
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THE A WORD is back on screens after more than two years of waiting but where is The A Word filmed and where is it set?
17:40, Tue, May 12, 2020 | UPDATED: 18:01, Tue, May 12, 2020
The A Word: Trailer for season three of BBC series
The third series of The A Word airs every Tuesday at 9pm on BBC One. Fans of the drama are curious to know more about the show, including where it is filmed and set. Express.co.uk has everything you need to know about The A Word.
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Where is The A Word set?
The A Word is set in a fictional town located in Cumbria, England.
The series revolves around Hughes family and their autistic son Joe (played by Max Vento).
After two and a half years, the series returned on picking up from the heartbreaking cliffhanger of season two.
At the end of season two, Joe’s parents Paul (Lee Ingleby) and Allison (Morven Christie) split up and at the start of season three, viewers learn that they have officially divorced and are living 100 miles apart.
Almost three years on, there has also been wider changes in the family with Nicola (Vinette Robinson) moved to London and Eddie (Greg McHugh) living with his dad.
READ MORE The A Word season 3: How many episodes are there?
The A Word airs Tuesdays on BBC One (Image: BBC)
The A Word is filmed in the Lake District, England (Image: BBC)
Where is The A Word filmed?
The A Word is filmed in the Lake District, England.
Notable locations in the Lake District where filming took place include the market towns of, Keswick, Broughton-in-Furness and Coniston.
Filming also took place at the Thirlmere Reservoir, and Birkrigg Cottage in the Newlands Valley.
Scenes are also shot at The Space Project Studios in Manchester.
The A Word is set in a fictional village in Cumbria (Image: BBC)
Those who live in the Lake District will be able to spot some of the areas most famous landmarks, such as the Skiddaw, England’s fourth highest mountain.
Actor Christopher Eccleston who plays Maurice Scott in The A Word spoke to the Radio Times about the importance of filming in the Lake District.
He said: “It does a lot of things, the scenery, obviously.
“We’ve not just gone for the beauty, we’ve gone for the dramatic backdrop.
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There are 6 episodes in The A Word (Image: BBC)
“And we’re also saying, look, this isn’t just an urban problem.
«This happens to families all over, wherever you live.”
He added: “And we’ve been welcomed up there by the Cumbrians and it gives us a sense of community, and a community you won’t necessarily always see on screen.”
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Phil McKay from Lakeside Castings told The Yorkshire Post: «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.»
The A Word airs Tuesdays at 9pm on BBC One
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