Capital doubles for London in adaptation of Buchan thriller

Published on Thursday 18 December 2008 08:51

SOME of the Capital's most famous streets are to be featured in a major BBC drama this Christmas – standing in for London.

The production team for the new BBC adaptation of the classic John Buchan novel The 39 Steps spent a day in the city centre filming around West Register Street.

The area was chosen to stand in for the streets of pre-First World War London and staff said they had been given invaluable support by local businesses for the shoot.

Miglet Crichton, the location manager said: "We filmed all over Scotland and we spent a day in Edinburgh shooting around West Register Street for the opening sequence of the film. It is such an amazing location and we have tried to shoot it from every possible angle, so even though it's supposed to be London a few Edinburgh locals might recognise the place."

The adaptation was filmed at locations across Scotland, including Bo'ness railway station, although fans of the Alfred Hitchcock film might be disappointed to hear that the iconic Forth Bridge does not feature.

"That was a Hitchcock addition," explained Ms Crichton.

The 39 Steps is being shown on BBC One on Saturday, December 28, at 8pm.