Where was Time filmed? Filming locations of BBC drama starring Sean Bean - from Liverpool to Shrewsbury

BBC’s new prison drama Time began on Sunday (6 June) evening, with the three part series exploring the harsh realities of the UK penal system.

Starring Sean Bean and Stephen Graham, the drama was filmed inside a former prison in Shropshire to add to the realism of the show.

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Here’s all you need to know about where BBC’s Time was filmed.

Where was BBC’s Time filmed?

BBC drama Time was filmed in HM Prison Shrewsbury.

The former real-life prison was decommissioned in March 2013. The prison was a Category B/C men’s prison in Shropshire, England.

HM Prison Shrewsbury is one of the oldest in the UK, and has become famous for its haunting past, which included executions, and horrific treatment of inmates during the Victorian era.

Director Lews Arnold told a press event before the show aired that he had considered various locations during scouting for the three-part series, but said HM Prison Shrewsbury “had such a feeling and energy”.

Arnold added: “The wings and the cells… The majority of the prison stuff – the key stuff, the landings – were shot in in a disused prison, which ironically, myself and the executive producer shot in five years ago, when it first closed, just before it was meant to be turned into student accommodation that never happened, luckily for us, so we were still able to use it now.

“But yeah, we looked at so many different prisons as well. This… prison just had such a feeling and energy, especially when [our set designer] got in and put a visual stamp on it as well. And it’s been left that way,”

Actor Stephen Graham, who plays Prison Guard Eric McNally, revealed that the walls of the prison were specially painted a grey colour in order to make the location feel more “miserable” on-screen.

Arnold also revealed that Eric McNally’s home in the show was shot on location in Liverpool. The visit room in the prison was filmed in an old school gym.

What is BBC prison drama Time about?

Time follows the life of a prisoner and prison officer inside the UK jail system.

The drama is written by UK screenwriter Jimmy McGovern, who wrote iconic shows like Accused, The Street, and Moving On.

Focusing on newly imprisoned teacher Mark Cobden (Sean Bean) and prison officer Eric McNally (Stephen Graham), the drama explores the choices made by the characters inside the prison system.

A synopsis of the show shared: “Mark Cobden (Sean Bean) is newly imprisoned, consumed by guilt for his crime, and way out of his depth in the volatile world of prison life. He meets Eric McNally (Stephen Graham), an excellent prison officer doing his best to protect those in his charge.

"However, when one of the most dangerous inmates identifies his weakness, Eric faces an impossible choice; between his principles and his family."

Who’s in the cast of Time?

Game of Thrones star Sean Bean stars as Mark Cobden. Bean has previously acted alongside his co-star Stephen Graham in Jimmy McGovern's anthology series, The Accused, in 2012.

Stephen Graham plays the role of prison officer Eric McNally.

Graham was seen on the small screen in police megadrama Line of Duty, and has also featured in various Hollywood movies, including Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman.

The cast of Time also stars David Calder, Sue Johnston, Hannah Walters, Siobhan Finneran, Nadine Marshall, Michael Socha, Aneurin Barnard, Jack McMullen and James Nelson-Joyce.

When is Time on TV?

The first episode of Time aired on BBC One on Sunday 6 June at 9pm.

The full series is available to stream immediately on BBC iPlayer.