Where is Close to Me filmed? South coast filming locations for Channel 4 drama explained - including Hastings

The show was predominantly filmed in the south of England in Hastings and St Leonards
(Photo: Channel 4)(Photo: Channel 4)
(Photo: Channel 4)

Close to Me is a big-budget six-part psychological thriller based on the novel of the same name by Amanda Reynolds, and airing on Channel 4.

As Reynold’s debut novel, the book went on to become a huge success, so it came as no surprise when the TV rights were snapped up.

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But while the series has gripped viewers, many have been left wondering where its coastal locales were actually filmed.

Here is everything you need to know.

What is Close to Me about?

It follows Jo and Rob, a married couple at the heart of the story.

They appear to have everything – a couple of fantastic kids, a loving marriage and a beautiful home in the country. But everything changes after Jo suffers a fall and awakes to find that an entire year of memories have been wiped from her mind.

She is determined to piece together what happened during that 12-month period, but while doing so begins to suspect that there were big cracks in her supposedly perfect life – and that somebody close to her is hiding a terrible secret.

But who is it, and why?

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Connie Nielsen takes the lead role of Jo; she’s perhaps best known for her roles in such hit movies as Gladiator, Wonder Woman and its sequel, Wonder Woman 1984.

Christopher Eccleston co-stars as Rob, while Susan Lynch, Leanne Best and Ray Fearon are among the supporting cast.

Where was it filmed?

The show was predominantly filmed in the south of England in Hastings and St Leonards, and Nielsen told RadioTimes.com: “It was lovely, the cliffs were beautiful. I was amazed by the countryside and the physical beauty of the nature; it was just amazing.”

Co-star Christopher Eccleston joked that he took his “bucket and spade” for days out filming in the town.

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Some of the seafront scenes in St Leonards were filmed in September last year, with large numbers of film trucks parked up in the car park near Azur.

One scene shows Nielsen buying seafood from a fishmonger stall set up on Grand Parade, another shows her walking into an estate agent across the road.

Birling Gap, one of the longest stretches of undeveloped coastline on England’s south coast, between Brighton and Eastbourne, also became a prime filming location for the Channel 4 psychological drama, where crews were seen filming at night.

How can I watch it?

Close to Me is available to watch through Channel 4’s catch-up service, All4.

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All six episodes are available as a “box set”, though each episode will be broadcast on terrestrial TV on Sunday nights via Channel 4 at 9pm.

The second episode airs on Sunday 14 November.

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