International Friday Night Foyle’s War Club: ‘The French Drop’

Foyle’s War to be filmed in Chester

(article from ‘Chester News)

Published by: Staff reporter

TELEVISION crews are set to descend on Chester for the new series of hit TV show Foyle’s War.

The filming will take place on Albion Street and Steele Street at the end of the month.

They have been chosen for their Victorian-style housing which is similar to the type of housing in 1940s London, where the series is set.

ITV is currently producing the ninth series of the programme which sees the main character, MI5 agent Chris Foyle, played by Michael Kitchen, detecting crime in London in 1945 in the aftermath of the Second World War.

Donald Cameron, location manager for Foyle’s War, said Albion Street was an ideal location because of the style of housing.

He said: “The series is set in London and Albion Street’s housing is similar to London’s.

“Another advantage is that it is a protected area so there is not much street furniture for us to move and there isn’t much to cover up to make it look Victorian.

“We are based in Liverpool but the houses there are Georgian in style rather than Victorian.

“We have used a village near Manchester in the past but Albion Street has a more realistic city feel.

“It is a bit of a travel for us to bring the whole crew down for the day’s filming and the scene won’t be massive but it will be worth it.”

The filming will take place on Tuesday April 1 and ITV has asking residents not to park on Albion Street and Steele Street from the evening of March 31 until the filming is completed in the evening of April 1. Alternative parking will be provided for displaced vehicles.

A spokesman for ITV added: “We understand that we are guests in your neighbourhood and we will do our utmost to minimise disruption to you as much as possible.

“Access for deliveries etc will be maintained at all times.

“Our stewards will be on hand to answer question and assist residents at all times.”

4. A reminder to all Club Members – virtual and actual: don’t forget to place a Foyle’s War picture in the room where you are attending the meeting. Our one for tonight’s meeting at Castle Coop for Actual Members features Sam and Sergeant Milner. Both are looking briskly efficient.

The French Drop

Tonight we shall be watching Episode 1; Series 3 : The French Drop

Wanting to do more to help the war effort, Foyle pulls strings and is offered a job at Naval Command. Back in Hastings, a body is found but the apparent facts are inconsistent, and strange goings-on are observed at a churchyard. Following the scent to SOE, an undercover espionage-training group, and dodging threats and sabotage, Foyle uncovers the identity of the body and the story behind it. Foyle accepts accusations of mis-investigation from a senior naval officer, losing the naval job but believing he has best aided the war effort.

Character and plot development

This episode features the second of three appearances by the recurring character Hilda Pierce, played by Ellie Haddington (previously in the episode “War Games”, and then in “All Clear”) – she then became a lead character in series eight.

Historical context

Horowitz was inspired by the Special Operations Executive, which was created by Churchill in 1940 to develop techniques of sabotage and subversion. By setting the story in the early days of the SOE, Horowitz was able to use the conflict between SOE and expectations of the government as a backdrop to the plot. Many of the details are authentic, such as the use by the SOE of carborundum powder to disable cars.

(Source: Wikipedia)

Looking forward very much to my weekly Foyle’s War fix,

Yours, about to go and find a rug to wrap up in,