US Release on MASTERPIECE on PBS on October 16

Magpie Murders had its UK release earlier this year to rave reviews.  It’s now time for this quintessentially British show to be exported stateside.  Magpie Murders will premiere on MASTERPIECE on PBS on Sunday, October 16.

Screen Suffolk helped find all the Suffolk Locations for the show.  Magpie Murders which stars Lesley Manville, Tim McMullan and Daniel Mays, is an unorthodox detective series with a twist, adapted from the bestselling book of the same name by Anthony Horowitz.  

The story is set in Suffolk, and Screen Suffolk locations used include Kersey Village, Woodbridge, Monks Eleigh and Ipswich.

The series is a murder mystery within a murder mystery, spanning two time periods.  Kersey Village in Babergh, Suffolk, was transformed into 1950’s Britain in May last year.  Kersey is one of Suffolk’s most picturesque villages and Screen Suffolk worked with the locations team, residents, and councils to ensure that the two week road closure caused as little disruption as possible.

Rachel Aldridge, Screen Suffolk’s Operations and Business Development Manager says:

‘The locations team from Eleventh Hour Films approached us looking for the quintessential Suffolk Village.  Babergh and the Mid Suffolk area was our first port of call and after a few days of looking at several villages Kersey was chosen.  It’s such a lovely village with so many period features, and once the art department had painted houses and placed period cars you feel transported to the 1950’s.”

Karen Everett, Director of Screen Suffolk adds:

“Screen Suffolk knows the value of screen tourism and we’re thrilled that Magpie Murders is going to showcase just what Suffolk has to offer to viewers across the Atlantic.  Kersey and Woodbridge both typify the beauty that visitors can expect when they visit the county.”

Jill Green who executive produced the show says of the Suffolk filming:

“Kersey village was utterly perfect for us so we were thrilled when Screen Suffolk secured it, alongside the brilliant cooperation of the villagers and the local pub and church in particular.  I now know why it’s considered one of the most beautiful villages in Suffolk.”

Other locations that were used across Suffolk were Woodbridge Train Station and Suffolk One College which was dressed as a modern day hospital.

Not only did Suffolk play Suffolk, but Ipswich also doubled as London in many key scenes with driving and walking shots taking place at various locations across Suffolk’s county town.  

Jim Horsfield Screen Suffolk’s Operations and Development Manager says:

“The use of Ipswich as London shows just how versatile Suffolk is for productions who are looking to film in the area. It’s great to have the local knowledge to be able to pinpoint exact streets that look just like North London as well as villages that can be morphed into period streets.”