The sleepy Warwickshire town of Alcester is about to wake up to a thriller of a time as it's set to star in a brand-new BBC crime drama, The Hairdresser Mysteries. The West Midlands hotbed has been buzzing with excitement after being chosen as one of the main locations for the series, which sees Sally Phillips bring to life the lead character Lily Petal. Residents who lived through the filming spectacle can't stop raving about the experience – and it's easy to see why.
Mark and Kathryn Cargill, the proud owners of a stunning home in Oversley Green just outside Alcester, got up close and personal with the production team as their property was transformed into a key location for the debut episode. And let's just say they were blown away by the professionalism and precision of the crew – describing it as "fascinating and really good fun". Their house became the setting for a pivotal scene where Lily Petal stumbles upon a body, sending shockwaves through the small community.
The gripping storyline follows Lily Petal, who takes over a quaint hairdressing salon in Alcester's picturesque cobbled street. But little does she know, she's about to uncover some of the town's most hidden secrets. The production team didn't just limit their filming to Alcester – they scouted out other top West Midlands locations including Stratford-upon-Avon, Wellesbourne, Worcester, and the majestic Ragley Hall. And did you spot it? Church House in Alcester was transformed into the salon at the heart of the mystery.
Alcester's had its fair share of TV fame before – remember Shakespeare and Hathaway? The buzz around The Hairdresser Mysteries was palpable, with locals sharing snaps and videos on social media groups like Alcester News. And as word gets out about the collaboration between the production team and the local community, it's clear – the people of Alcester are ready for their close-up.
Moral of the story: if you're approached by the BBC for location filming in the future, take Mark Cargill's advice and give it a go! He praised the crew for making minimal disruption to their lives during filming, saying they left his home "virtually undisturbed". It just goes to show that when production meets community spirit, magic happens.