Familiar sites are settings for Netflix drama

New series uses array of locations in key scenes

- DIANNE BOURNE

NEW Netflix drama Fool Me Once began streaming this week, with the promise of an explosive thriller that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. It stars Michelle Keegan as Maya Stern, who is coming to terms with the murder of her husband Joe Burkett, played by Richard Armitage.

But just two weeks after his death, she makes a horrifying discovery on her two-year-old daughter's nanny cam. It begins Maya's desperate search for answers, and coming to terms with deep secrets and deceit in her own past.

The eight-part drama was filmed across the north west over six months earlier in 2023. While the drama is based on the novel by Harlan Coben which is set in New Jersey, for the Netflix show the action is all transported to the UK.

Show producer Jessica Taylor said the series has been gaining huge momentum in the build up to its release when it will be streamed across 190 countries to a global audience. It will allow viewers from across the world to see some intriguing Manchester and Cheshire locations that were used for the action.

More obvious Manchester landmarks were avoided, as the location is intended to be a fictional place rather than set here in the city so they hunted for lesser known locations for key scenes.

Here, Jessica tells us a bit more about some of the key locations people will see in the gripping drama.

Farmwood - Arley Hall 

The impressive country estate where the Birkett family live is called Farmwood in the story. But for the Netflix drama, they used the stately Arley Hall and Gardens, near Northwich in Cheshire, for the action.

While the main hall itself is the setting for the grand home of Judith Birkett, played by Joanna Lumley, the cottages on the estate were also used for filming where Maya's nanny lives.

Flashback scenes of Maya and Joe's wedding were also filmed at Arley Hall in the chapel there.