Fans of Channel 5's eerie new thriller will be surprised when they learn where it was filmed. 'Number One Fan' makes its debut on Channel 5 tonight, and the four-part series will keep viewers hooked as it is set to air across consecutive days this week.
What is 'Number One Fan' About?
The chilling thriller follows morning TV presenter Lucy Logan (played by Jill Halfpenny), who is saved from a mugging by a woman claiming to be her biggest fan. Donna (Sally Lindsay), a mysterious woman, manages to worm her way into Lucy's personal life, where she displays her dark ulterior motives. Wherever Lucy goes, Donna is there too - in her studio audiences, at launch events, when she is shopping, on the school run, outside her house. Lucy cannot escape her.
Where Was It Filmed?
The fictional thriller is set in the high-pressure world of daytime television, but it was filmed in an unexpected location: Northern Spain's Basque region and its capital, Vitoria-Gasteiz. Actress Jill Halfpenny opened up about filming there: 'I filmed Girl Taken out there as well, so I knew the town but there wasn't a lot of down time. You have weekends off. You go to the gym; you have some food, and you learn your lines for the next week. I would love to tell you that everyone was going out and having a right old time but with these shoots, the hours are very intense. But I loved working with Paul Wilmshurst, the director. He has done so much and knew exactly what he wanted.'
Challenging Filming Days
Halfpenny revealed her most challenging day of filming involved a scene she shared with Dean Andrews' character, Stewart Jones. She explained: 'That was challenging because we were in this old farmhouse in the middle of nowhere. It is dark, it is dank. There was a lot going on. Dean Andrews is brilliant in this. I watched him filming some of his other scenes and they were fantastic. I think people will enjoy seeing how we have approached what also goes on behind the camera. Those scenes are very special.'
It is not the first time a drama has been set in the UK but filmed in Spain. Season three of 'The Teacher' was also filmed in the Basque region of Spain, despite being set in Sheffield. 'Number One Fan' airs on Channel 5 from 9pm on May 4.
