A rich and vibrant environment such as Brighton would certainly be an interesting setting for a television show, and it would appear that ITV would agree. New crime drama The Level will be shooting on the famous pier this week on Thursday and Friday, having already filmed a scene on The Level itself.
Not only that, but the official cast list promises an exciting and atmospheric show involving some of Britain’s elite acting talent. Karla Crome (Misfits) stars as Detective Sergeant Nancy Devlin, while co-starring is Philip Glenister of Ashes to Ashes and Mad Dogs, two award-nominated television shows. Glenister plays “shady businessman and drug trafficker” Frank Le Saux, who ITV say will have ties with the main character, making The Level a tantalising prospect.
The drama is expected to take a prime time slot on ITV from this autumn and will be a six-part series, while it is also said to have been based partially on co-author Gaby Chiappe’s experiences of Brighton as a child. Further to that, assistant script editor Beth Aynsley told Brighton and Hove News that “there’s a sense of something both old and new about Brighton”, and the fact that the story centres on “the past catching up with you” resonated with Chiappe.
It appears that the drama will take place all over the city. As aforementioned, filming this week will focus on Brighton Pier but film crews have been seen on London Road, in Hanover and in other areas around the seafront.
The Level will hopefully represent an enthralling story told in a backdrop which appears criminally underused by television producers and film crews and we at the Brighton Journal can’t wait until autumn!
