Where was Before We Die filmed? Filming locations of channel 4 Lesley Sharp drama - from Bristol to Belgium

Before We Die is the latest thriller at the top of everyone’s watchlist. Based on the Swedish series of the same name, the show focuses on a detective as she searches for her lover who has gone missing under mysterious circumstances.

Set in Bristol this is everything you need to know about the crime drama and where it was filmed.

Where was Before We Die filmed?

Eagle Eye Drama, the creative team behind the programme, was supported by the Bristol Film Office during shooting.

The production team filmed in September 2020, and during the first three months of 2021, shooting at locations like Stokes Croft, Victoria Square and The Paragon in Clifton, Brandon Hill Park, York Road, Clarence Road and The Horsefair.

The team also carried out aerial filming above a number of Bristol’s green spaces, including Sparke Evans, Natham and Castle Parks.

While the detective thriller is based in Bristol, not all the filming was actually shot on location - additional shooting actually took place in and around Brussels, with the Belgian capital made up to look like English city.

Jo McGrath, Executive Producer, said: “We wanted to set it in a port city, as that is important to the drug trafficking storyline. We were looking for something a little less familiar and Bristol is one of those cities that actually has been used as a backdrop for filming a lot, but you wouldn't know it because a lot of series are filmed there but not set there.

“Bristol is such a visually interesting city and editorially it fitted with our storyline. Belgium also features in our drug trafficking storyline. Jan [Matthys, Director] is Belgium too, and we did shoot many of the interiors in Belgium.”

Jan Matthys, Director, said: “For me, part of the challenge was making Belgium match with the other scenes in Bristol - which was interesting.

“We became specialists in “Anglifying” Belgium. It was simple things such as putting double yellow lines on the streets which made it instantly Bristol. I love the magic of my craft and this was a good way to bring the series to life.”

Walter Iuzzolino, Executive Producer, added: “For me this was all about our ethos as a company. We want to make great British drama - but it has always been our mission to tap into some of the fantastic behind the screen talents from around Europe.

“Great directors like Jan, visionary DOPs, fantastic costume designers and art directors… a wealth of extraordinary creatives who can bring their vision to our great British stories.

“To me, it was important to ensure that this would be a great British drama with a great British cast, but the forces behind it would be truly international and bring a different flavour and vision to the screen.

“As a result, the series feels different and it is infused with the elegance of real cinema. I am very proud of it.”

What is Before We Die about?

The six part thriller is based on the Swedish series of the same name, and is set in Bristol.

Lesley Sharp (Scott & Bailey, Three Girls) heads up the series as Detective Hannah Laing, who suffers from inner turmoil after discovering that her son is playing a crucial role as an undercover informant in a horrendous murder investigation.

Patrick Gibson (The Tudors, The OA) stars as her son, Christain, and Croatian actor Toni Gojanović (Success) takes on the role of Davor Mimica, the leader of the criminal gang.

Vinvent Regan (Troy, 3000) also stars as Billy Murdoch, a non-conformist investigator who is seconded to Hannah’s unit to advise on Eastern European drug gangs.

When is it on?

The first episode of Before We Die aired on Wednesday 26 May, at 9pm on Channel 4.

The second episode will be broadcast on Channel 4 at 9pm on Wednesday 2 June.

The six part series will continue to be shown weekly on Wednesdays at 9pm on the same channel.

The show will also be available to watch on the Channel 4 website after it's been aired.