Production crews have rolled into Ballymena once again as filming gets underway on a brand-new television crime drama series.
The entourage arrived earlier this week at Eaton Park on Raceview Road in the town, with scenes shooting locally and at other locations across Northern Ireland.
Channel 5 announced the commission in October of its latest series, The Puzzle Lady.
BAFTA award-winning Actress Phyllis Logan; best known for playing Mrs Hughes in the award-winning television series Downton Abbey, will play the titular role of Cora Felton, the eponymous Puzzle Lady.
Actress Phyllis Logan
The series is based on the best-selling books by American author Parnell Hall and begins when a strange murder takes place in the sleepy market town of Bakerbury.
The local police are baffled by a crossword puzzle left on the body. With their case going nowhere, they turn reluctantly to Cora Felton, a recent arrival in Bakerbury; whose fame as the eponymous Puzzle Lady suggests she can help DCI Hooper and the Bakerbury police solve its first murder case. But the eccentric Cora isn’t who she claims to be, and as she throws herself into a murder case that has the town’s residents baffled, she starts to gather allies and enemies in equal measure.
The series was ordered by Paul Testar, Commissioning Editor, Drama, Channel 5 and Paramount+ who will also executive produce alongside Sebastian Cardwell, Deputy Chief Content Officer, Paramount UK for Channel 5.
Paul Testar, Commissioning Editor, Drama, Channel 5 and Paramount+ commented:
“We’re very pleased to bring The Puzzle Lady to Channel 5, a compelling, cosy crime drama that will keep viewers guessing and entertained equally. Phyllis Logan will be excellent as Cora Felton, our Puzzle Lady.”
Emily Dalton, Managing Director, Factual Fiction added:
“With Cora Felton, Dominique Moloney has written a character that leaps off the page and we are so happy that the wonderful Phylis Logan will bring The Puzzle Lady to life. This will be my fifth project in Northern Ireland, working with some of the best crew in the UK – it feels a bit like coming home.”