Finding Alice premieres Sunday, January 17 at 9pm on ITV and there is no doubt viewers will be wanting to know more about the Alice and Harry’s house where much of the drama is set. The creators and cast of Finding Alice recently spoke to Express.co.uk and other press ahead of the show’s release about the making of Finding Alice.
Where is Finding Alice set?
Finding Alice on ITV is set in the present day in a fictional town in Surrey named Manning.
The series follows the story of Alice (played by Keeley Hawes) as she tries to navigate her way through life following the death of her partner Harry (Jason Merrells).
Harry, who was her partner of 20 years, sadly died after falling down the stairs of their dream smart-home.
However, he left behind a life of secrets, debt and crime which Alice quickly discovers.
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Goldby, Nye and executive producer Nicola Shindler told Express.co.uk and other press, Finding Alice told the story of Greif with a bit of colour.
Goldby explained: “Alice said early on that Harry didn’t like gloom, and the bits we see of Harry show […] he’s clearly someone who likes to pursue fun and regards life as an excuse to enjoy yourself.
“So it sort of carries on his legacy if you like – the way he lived his life, as I think did Alice – they were both party to this idea that what’s the point of being alive if you’re not enjoying it?
“Alice feels particularly beholden to the memory of Harry, not just by wearing a bright dress but by doing him the honour of not descending into gloom and [instead] sharing the joy, even when somebody has died.”
Roger added: “The house is Harry’s “thing” – yes, Alice shared the dream, but it was Harry’s thing, and she’s now left to cope with it.”
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Where was Finding Alice filmed?
Filming for filming Alice took place between January and October 2020, with filming taking a pause as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Although the series is set in a fictional Surrey town named Manning, the majority of filming took place in Surrey itself.
Surrey residents may recognise their local parks including Roseberry Park and Epsom’s Town Hall.
Some scenes were shot in London but sadly, at the moment, the location of the unique smart house remains unknown. Express.co.uk will update this article when more information is available.
Keeley Hawes, who plays Alice in the series explained the house was a “driving force.”
She said:” It had to be at the heart of the show in order for Alice to go on this journey because if it hadn’t been Harry’s passion project we’d all be thinking,’ well why doesn’t she just sell up and move out?’
“It had to be a piece of him that she has to hold onto at all costs. It’s a huge part of the show and we loved shooting there.
“The wonderful couple [who own it] with their pug were very generous and inviting and patient with us.
“And the design team have done such a wonderful job – it’s a little bit reminiscent of The Durrells in that the interior is all in the studio and then the exterior is at the house.
“They’ve done a flawless, seamless job of making that work.”
The series features bright colours throughout from the setting to costumes, make-up and props.
Schindler explained: “Just because it was about grief and loss doesn’t mean it should be stark, it didn’t mean it was always about blacks and whites.
“It was always about colour and warmth, and it’s important to show that the world really does look like this, even though terrible things can happen in it, rather than doing that television thing of making it all blue or all dark.
“It was just really important that it invites the audience in. And that house was a brilliant find…”
Goldby explained: “The vision we had for it was everything comes from Alice – from the slightly ethereal, otherworldly state she finds herself in following Harry’s death.
“We wanted to create an aesthetically realistic world but slightly heightened, through the use of lighting and the colours we chose, costumes and makeup, it all creates a feeling of light and shade…I think we achieved it, and it all comes from the character of Alice.”
Finding Alice premieres Sunday, January 17 at 9pm on ITV