Hexham, the Northumberland town declared the 'best place to live' in the North East last year, was one of the main filming locations for new Channel 5 drama Forever Home, which had its premiere in Newcastle on Friday night.
The town, known for its cobbled streets, riverside views and picture postcard architecture, has previously featured in shows like Vera. It was also named the 'happiest' place to live last year, with property firm Rightmove ranking it above Newcastle in second place and within the top 10 for the whole of the UK.
Star-Studded Cast and Local Favourites
The new series boasts an all-star cast including Kevin Whately, Douglas Henshall and Lewis Cope. At the centre of the story is Carol Crottie, played by Amy Nuttall, whose on-screen mum is Denise Welch.
Both Amy and Denise stayed in Hexham during filming, praising 'the beautiful' Beaumont Hotel. They also became fans of the town's Indian restaurant Zyka, so much so that they arranged for the show's wrap party to be held there.
Plot and Premiere Reactions
Trailers for Forever Home reveal that Amy's character Carol becomes concerned that her older husband, whose dementia is worsening, is hiding a dark secret about the whereabouts of his ex-wife, who everyone believes 'ran off' with his brother two decades earlier.
Speaking to ChronicleLive on Friday, Amy described the series as 'gripping', while Denise called it 'unpredictable'. The series is set to debut on Channel 5 in a primetime slot later this year.
