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Slow Horses filming sees Watford take the limelight

Danny Fullbrook
BBC News, Hertfordshire
Stephen Danzig Crowds of people, some dressed as police officers and television journalists, stand outside West Herts College which has been decorated with Christmas lights and a large sign advertising a fictional shopping destination called Westacres.Stephen Danzig
Scenes were filmed at West Herts College which doubled as a shopping centre

A mayor said his town had been put "on the map" as a filming destination after crews from the series Slow Horses were spotted in action.

Scenes for the fourth series of the Apple TV thriller, starring Gary Oldman, were filmed in Watford last year.

Production crews used locations at West Herts College, Watford Leisure Centre and Hempstead Road for the spy drama.

Mayor Peter Taylor said: "Hosting major productions like the Apple TV series Slow Horses not only puts Watford on the map as a prime destination for future film and television projects, but also brings economic benefits to our town."

Stephen Danzig A man on a cherry picker is fixing a sign advertising a sale to the outside of West Herts College near some Christmas lightsStephen Danzig
Watford is close to Warner Bros Studios in Leavesden

Earlier this year, the Hertfordshire Film Office launched a website to promote the area to potential filmmakers.

It was created by the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, with funding from Hertfordshire Growth Board and district councils.

The area is a popular destination for filmmakers as it is home to both Elstree Studios - owned by Hertsmere Borough Council - and the Warner Bros Studios at Leavesden.

Dacorum Borough Council said the town of Hemel Hempstead had also become the "UK's answer to Hollywood".

Stephen Danzig A large reindeer Christmas decoration covered in lights and baulballs is outside a pale yellow building at West Herts College. There is a curtain of Christmas lights either sideStephen Danzig
Slow Horses is based on a series of books by British author Mick Herron

Mr Taylor added: "We’ve seen first hand how such productions boost local businesses and create job opportunities.

"To help promote what the county and Watford has to offer, the Hertfordshire Film Office offers a seamless, one-stop support service for productions filming in the county, including location matching, highway permits, traffic management, and access to local crews.

"As Hertfordshire becomes a key hub in the UK's rapidly growing Creative and Screen Industry, we want to maximise the sector’s potential and position the town and county as a premier filming destination."

Getty Images Gary Oldman is wearing a brown jacket and black jumper underneath. He has long mostly grey hair and is unshaven resembling his Slow Horses character Jackson Lamb. He is at an event promoting Slow Horses and standing next to the show's logo.Getty Images
Academy Award winner Gary Oldman plays Jackson Lamb in the series

Deputy mayor Aga Dychton said Watford was an attractive location for film and television makers due to the diversity of buildings and closeness to London.

She told BBC Three Counties Radio that another production had used Market Street in recent months.

Ms Dychton explained: "It's quite interesting to see a small town with very characteristic buildings get opportunities where in the past nobody would look at it when there's big cities."

LISTEN: Why film-makers are flocking to Watford

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