London provides the tense backdrop to BBC One’s new pre-apocalyptic crime series Hard Sun

London provides the tense backdrop to BBC One’s new pre-apocalyptic crime series Hard Sun. Hidden locations, along with well known places work side by side with important housing estates and some quiet back streets to bring the drama to life.

It starts this Saturday January 6th. Take a look at the trailer here.

Jim Sturgess and Agyness Deyn star as police officers working on the routine death of a hacker in London. But they come across proof the world is facing certain destruction in five years because of a mysterious cosmic event.

Writer Neil Cross says that he relied on real science but, reassuringly, although this could happen, it’s very unlikely. He was inspired by the David Bowie song Five Years.

In the show, the British government is trying to suppress the truth about the upcoming apocalypse, meaning our lead characters are chased by Security Service killers, who want them dead. The classified dossier is made public eventually, and though it’s discredited by the government, it is never fully suppressed.

FilmFixer manages the film office service for many of the London boroughs where the show was filmed including Lambeth, Lewisham, Southwark, Haringey, Islington and Camden.

FilmFixer director Andrew Pavord says, “This was an extensive shoot between February and April last year, with cast and crew of up to 80 for the most complex scenes. The incredible hidden Highgate tunnels, connected to the abandoned Highgate Overground station were used.

“We see a life or death chase scene through West Norwood cemetery. Swiss Cottage Library features, and the Camden Council office at 5 Pancras Square plays a newspaper office that’s raided by police. Even the real Guy’s at London Bridge was used for hospital scenes – it’s a rare location to see used.

“Telegraph Hill in Lewisham was lit with surreal brightness to shoot the impact of the terrifying cosmic event. A beautifully choreographed fight scene was shot on the beach at Bankside.

“Dramatic crime scenes were also filmed on the Brandon Estate where a body is found impaled in a tree and the Alexandra & Ainsworth Estate where there’s another tense chase scene.

“The production did a great job at working closely with residents to minimise disruption and donations worth thousands of pounds were made to residents groups so that all locals would benefit from the filming.

“This is another great example of Londoners working together to make world renowned TV drama possible. Hulu is taking the series to America.”

In Lambeth we see the much-loved Parma café on Kennington Road feature