Channel 5's latest thriller The Fortune may centre on a mysterious inheritance and a sprawling estate, but the drama's real stars are arguably the striking North East locations that bring Amanda Blakefield's story to life.
The four-parter follows Amanda, portrayed by Eleanor Tomlinson, whose quiet life is thrown into chaos after learning she has unexpectedly inherited part of the fortune belonging to a wealthy businessman Martin Worrall – a man she never even knew. What initially appears to be a life-changing opportunity quickly spirals into something more sinister.
Written by Aschlin Ditta and produced by Newcastle-based company Lonesome Pine Productions, The Fortune was filmed across the North East of England during an eight-week shoot in autumn 2025. Much of the drama was filmed in Hartlepool, which serves as the backdrop for Amanda's everyday life, including the Hartlepool Headland and areas surrounding the marina.
The shoot also gave actor Callum Woodhouse, who plays Martin Worrall's son Anthony, a rare chance to spend extra time with his family. 'My mum works in Hartlepool so there were days when I felt I could nip over the road from filming and have lunch with her,' he said.
While the North East coastline gives The Fortune much of its moody atmosphere, filming there occasionally became extremely challenging. Matthew Lewis, who portrays Amanda's husband Jimmy, recalled one particularly difficult day filming during severe weather conditions near the coast. 'We happened to be filming on the edge of the world... The rain was already coming in sideways; the winds were blowing lights everywhere,' he said. Production was eventually forced to stop due to safety concerns.
Although much of Amanda's story unfolds in Hartlepool, the luxurious Worrall estate was filmed at Cleveland Lodge in North Yorkshire – a property once home to two famous chocolate-making dynasties. Filming also extended into Newcastle and Northumberland, with landscapes used heavily during Amanda's investigation into the Worrall family history.
