ITV's new crime drama Winter stars Richard Armitage as forensic pathologist Dr Ethan Winter, with Annabel Scholey as DI Lauren Bell and Jamie Kenna as DS Ellis Daldry. The series, which is expected to appeal to fans of Silent Witness, comprises standalone episodes, with each instalment presenting a "treasure hunt of random dots" for Winter and Bell to piece together.
What sets Winter apart
Discussing what distinguishes Winter from other crime dramas, Richard explained: "It's got both crime procedural and long-form stories."
"The forensic style and the way that we enter the world of the victim through the discovery of the body, not necessarily in flashback, but as a way of mapping what happened to them, is quite unusual. Rather than starting with the murder, we begin with the investigation that then leads us back to how they were killed."
Set in Bristol, filmed in Belgium
The programme is set "against the atmospheric backdrop of Bristol," with the city serving as a significant element throughout, particularly regarding Winter's laboratory, which is housed within a Victorian swimming pool nestled in the middle of a forest, reports Bristol Live.
Interestingly, however, the production was actually filmed in Belgium. Discussing the laboratory set and his collaboration with director Kaat Beels and Dries Vos in Belgium, executive producer Walker Luzzolino said: "We've worked with them both before. Dries is also our partner in Belgium. They knew that we wanted a heightened, premium look and they took the lead in the actual physical vision, with the photography and the art direction."
An elaborate set and a home-from-home
"After pitching their idea for Winter's lab, Dries realised he couldn't find a Victorian swimming pool that has been converted into a lab with specific windows. So, he created a set, which was incredibly elaborate, and we loved it. He knows our tastes, so we are very aligned."
Actor Jamie Kenna also opened up about the experience of shooting in Belgium, saying: "We filmed in Belgium and the way the Belgians do everything is very inclusive, compared to here or America where you all get your own trailers and disappear for lunch on your own. This was like a school dining experience, so we all ate together and became close. It was also more welcoming for guest stars."
"Being away from my family is difficult for me, but they made it a home-from-home. I ended up going to football matches with one of the drivers. And on our last day of filming, I set up 'Daldry's Bristol Boozer' at lunchtime and we had Aperol Spritz. Then I grabbed a guitar and me and a couple of the crew performed a little song. The whole thing was like a thank you for looking after us."
Winter starts on ITV1 on Wednesday, September 30 at 9pm.
