Filming “The Bay” at Sunderland Point

Promotional photo for ‘The Bay’ with Sunderland Point in the background: Courtesy Tall Tale Story Pictures for ITV

Filming ‘The Bay’: A touch of make-up required for Marsha Thomason, who plays DS Jenn Townsend: Photo: Alan Smith

IT was a bold move by ITV to set its blockbuster show ‘The Bay’ in the tranquil haven of Sunderland Point - a tiny village regularly cut off by powerful tides surging in from Morecambe Bay.

Access is by a narrow winding causeway across marshes on to a rough shingle and stone beach to reach the cluster of ancient houses.

Even when TV executives came to reconnoitre the location, they were unable to reach the village - confronted by an expanse of blue water with a tide rolling in. But, captivated by its beauty and uniqueness, they took the plunge - almost literally - and decided to film there.

It was to cause major problems for their crew - and just as many headaches for the village’s 60 or so residents as a small army of actors, camera operators and technicians descended upon - and were often marooned in - the pretty hamlet.

The causeway when flooded: Photo Alan Smith

“It will be an invasion,” was the warning from producer Martin Campbell as he told Sunderland Pointers that the crime series was to film there.

He wasn’t wrong. On the first day of the shoot, in August 2023, an estimated 95 TV people were on site, outnumbering villagers two to one, with huge arrays of lighting and broadcast equipment being lugged along the little First Terrace. 

Throng and dance: Some of the crew on First Terrace: Website collection

Another unit was set up on the mainland side of the causeway for three huge 18-ton lorries and 14 or so other vehicles. They squashed in to the car park next to the famous old Globe Hotel - just before the entrance to the tidal causeway, which floods when tides rise above 26 feet.

Preparing the police car at the Globe car park for the causeway scene: Website Collection

Access for crew and villagers was strictly controlled by traffic controllers to ensure that residents didn’t unexpectedly wander in to shot as they returned from their weekly shop or dental appointment.

Location manager Henry Jepson admitted: ”We hadn’t appreciated the problems of a high tide. The parking plan was shot to pieces - we had to move vehicles to Overton. Plans for food delivery had to be changed at the last minute.”

Resident Brian Holmes said: “You might say it was an invasion of massive proportions - on the first day of beach scenes there were about 95 of them - so we were outnumbered quite considerably.”

Another villager, Andy Winters, said: “I opened the curtains one morning and it felt like 50 people were standing round, all dressed in black. I hadn’t realised they were starting, so it was quite a shock.

“Another time they’d erected this camera right in front of my front door, and I couldn’t get out of the house.

Film crew outside Andy and Jane’s house (number 10): Website collection

“But all the crew were lovely. If we wanted to get out, they'd stop and let us go – it was just the initial shock of seeing everybody sitting along the wall.”

Lunch on the Quay: Website collection

Sunderland Pointers - while welcoming visitors to the narrow peninsular - are very protective of its unique and historical nature and strive to ensure it keeps its tranquillity and authenticity. 

Fortunately, the producers of the show were sensitive to those concerns and had met with villagers before filming to address issues about the three-week filming.

Gemma McGungle - whose house was used for filming - said: “The quiet and the tranquillity of the Point is a huge attraction so I was massively reluctant at first to agree to them filming at our house. I’d heard that the show is massive worldwide - and I knew of a place in Cornwall that got lots of visitors from Germany because of a German TV programme that was filmed there. I’m sure it would upset a few people at the Point if we were besieged by Bay fans.

Gemma and Simon’s house (number 20) Photo Gemma McGungle

“So I spoke to other villagers as I thought it wasn’t what people would want. But after consulting with others in the village, I agreed to let them film using our house as they wanted somewhere they could put a boat on.

“It was fine for us - and the crew were brilliant.”

Preparing the set at number 20: Website collection

Despite the unavoidable disruption, location manager Henry and his colleagues were generally able to smooth out the problems that regularly arose from so large an operation in so small a place. And in one case, the presence of the Bay crew was a real bonus - even a lifesaver.

Trish Bonnick has atrial fibrillation and one day her heart began to beat abnormally quickly. But the tide had come in and cut off the village - making it impossible for an ambulance to reach Sunderland Point. In similar situations, villagers have to rely on coastguard or helicopter, but this time … The Bay came to the rescue!

Trish explains: “The tide was on so the ambulance couldn't get over. 

“I was sat outside my house and one of the crew spotted me and asked if I was all right? I said no! Luckily, the show has a paramedic - an advanced paramedic. 

“The crew member went off to alert the paramedic and he came and looked after me until the ambulance came. He made sure he kept me calm to help with my heart rate - and that was vital. 

“The ambulance finally got to the village when the tide went down and the crew were great in clearing the way for it to take me to A&E.

“Without them, I probably would have had a few problems. So they did me a favour - a big favour! It took about eight hours at the hospital for my heart to calm down.”

The Bay was able to help in this case - and in turn, villagers were able to help with the production.

Phil Smith - who works at Glasson Dock and is often to be seen on the pilot boat that guides in big ships into the estuary - was able to lend them some of his maritime equipment for props.

Phil said: “I was able to help at Glasson with stuff - then they said they needed a boat for the beach at the Point. But they wanted it to be upside down - I think they’d been looking at Cornwall too long to be honest!

Phil Smith and his two sons Joe and Josh flipping over Lizzie: Photo: Carole Roberts

“Well, as a rule we don’t turn boats upside down on these beaches here at Sunderland Point - they get damaged because easterly winds round here create a lot of swell. 

“But my two boys Joe and Josh - and James Walker - helped me turn over one of our boats called Lizzie.

Phil and James Walker preparing the boat: Photo: Carole Roberts

“Shortly after I’d flipped her over, the winds turned easterly. Even though the boat was floating upside down with 40 gallon oil drums inside, it still got damaged - and it’s in my yard now being repaired.

“I’d definitely welcome them back if they film again - but I won’t be turning my boat upside down!”

While it was the beach that provided the atmospherics outside, the interior shots were filmed mostly at No 9, the home of Brian Holmes and Carole Roberts.

Filming outside number 9: Website collection

They decided to move out for a large part of the shoot  - but they were still able to enjoy the filming at their home.

Brian said: “We got quite close to some of the crew. You get to know them on first name terms. They would make a beeline for you in the morning to say hello. They were all brilliant even though they were so busy.

“One really hot day, our neighbour Cyn Smith came to filming loaded with Solero ice lollies and handed them out to all and sundry. She’d specifically gone out to get them. There were about 20 lollies - still not enough to go around!”

Cyn (in doorway) with Alan and Brian (right) outside: Website collection

Small wonder not everyone got one of Cyn’s lollies - the village quayside was a busy throng of people rushing and milling around.

The build-up to shooting would begin, warnings would be given out, and everyone bar the key actors had to be out of sight, cars halted at either end of the village - all controlled by an array of runners with walkie-talkies.

In addition, there were support vehicles crowded on to the beach, temporary toilets, a refreshment station at No4, and a green room at No3. The village Reading Room and Mission Church were used to store equipment.

Recording equipment at the Reading Room: Website collection

Location manager Henry admitted: “There were complaints, mostly about noise and blocked parking, which we attempted to solve asap. The only person put out about delays was the postman!”

Indeed, the lack of access could have made life tricky for our popular postman - Phil the Postie - who has to plan deliveries around the tides. 

But everything gets the thumbs-up from Phil, who said: “They were really professional. It was no problem for me. They never made me late.

“There were loads of them but they were always looking out for me. Sometimes I had to wait in the van on the beach, because they would stop cars driving on to the terrace during scenes. 

Filming at the Point end of the causeway: Website collection

“But it was no problem - and I might watch this series!”

Phil’s not the only one - many Pointers have been tuning in to watch the show, which has reached a peak of 8.38million viewers, to see how the village has been transformed into a crime show backdrop. 

Gemma - a barrister working in chambers in Manchester - added: “Quite a lot of my clients are solicitors and they will be watching the series because it’s a police show. And both our mums will be absolutely obsessed with it… because our house is on it!”

Andy added: “When they all went after filming ended, it felt taking the Christmas decorations down, kind of empty!

“I watched the first series, and that was good, but I'll definitely watch this one!”

Filming ‘The Bay’ on First Terrace: Photo Alan Smith

Next Wednesday we shall publish the gallery of photographs taken by villagers during filming, and next Sunday there will be an article based around an interview with Henry Jepson, the Location Manager for the production.