Where was The Long Call filmed? North Devon locations of ITV drama starring Ben Aldridge - and where it’s set

The series is based on the novel by the same name, written by best selling author Ann Cleeves
The ITV series is set near the North Devon coast (Picture: britannica)The ITV series is set near the North Devon coast (Picture: britannica)
The ITV series is set near the North Devon coast (Picture: britannica)

ITV’s latest murder mystery drama is another gripping screen adaptation of an Ann Cleeves novel.

The Long Call tells the story of DI Matt Venn (Ben Aldridge) as he returns to his hometown to mourn the loss of his father and solve the murder of another local man.

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The drama features stunning beaches, village streets and promenades which has left many viewers wondering where in the UK the scenes were filmed.

So, here is everything you need to know about filming locations and where the story is set.

Where is The Long Call set?

The story is set in the small seaside town of Barum Brethren, a fictional town Cleeves based in North Devon.

Ben Aldridge leads in the ITV drama (Picture: ITV)Ben Aldridge leads in the ITV drama (Picture: ITV)
Ben Aldridge leads in the ITV drama (Picture: ITV)

The town’ name relates to the church of Brethren, a deeply religious belief system which dates back over 300 years and reflects the new testament of the bible.

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The setting plays a huge role in how the story is told, as DI Venn has married his partner Jonathan and left the town as a young man due to feeling outcast and ostracized.

Where is The Long Call filmed?

The cast and crew filmed many of the outdoor scenes in North Devon, in areas such as Crow Point and Appledore.

According to North Devon Council’s website, other areas filming took place included Ilfracombe, Croyde, Hartland, Saunton Sands, and Barnstaple.

Appledore was one of the main filming locations for the series (Picture: BeautifulNorthDevon)Appledore was one of the main filming locations for the series (Picture: BeautifulNorthDevon)
Appledore was one of the main filming locations for the series (Picture: BeautifulNorthDevon)

However, the scenes were filmed across three weeks and the interior shots in the series were shot in Bristol.

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Some of the cast also had ties to North Devon and spoke about filming in the coastal towns.

Leading actor Ben Aldridge is from Devon and said of returning to his home county: “It was nice to be filming somewhere that felt familiar and to know it so well.

“We used to go on day trips to North Devon when I was younger and I spent some summers surfing on the beaches there...When we eventually filmed the opening scenes at Crow Point, my mum and dad came to set, it was a little full-circle moment."

Pearl Mackie, who plays Venn’s co-detective DS Jen Rafferty, as she studied in Devon and said of her time spent filming: “There was an element of returning now to Bristol to film The Long Call where, without wanting to sound arrogant, I did feel really proud of myself for how far I’d come. I’d really have liked that girl back then to see me now."

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Meanwhile, Martin Shaw, who plays Dennis Stephenson in the series said: "It’s absolutely beautiful. It just seeps into your souls.

“On one particular day for the baptism scene, I was at one point up to my chest in the sea. The waves are coming backwards and forwards and knocking me off balance.

"It was cold, the weather was quite wild and we had a lot of takes because the weather kept changing.

“And I couldn’t get enough of it! I just wanted to get back in the water because it was just so primal and exciting. It’s a very beautiful place."

The Long Call airs across four episodes, from Monday 25 October to Thursday 28 October. The full series is also available to watch on BritBox and the ITV Hub.

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