Yep, we’re already falling for a new TV show.
We’ve been seriously spoiled when it comes to television lately, from the romance of Off Campus to the thrills of Legends. We travelled back to the ’80s with Rivals and into the chaos of the ER with The Pitt. Then there was Euphoria… but we don’t talk about Euphoria too much.
Just as we thought sunny days might finally pull us away from our sofas, Channel 4 — home to Married at First Sight, Virgin Island, First Dates and more — arrived with a romantic drama that’s completely stolen our hearts.
Falling dives headfirst into the forbidden love story between nun Anna (played by Keeley Hawes) and Catholic priest David (played by Paapa Essiedu), as the pair wrestle with their vows, their faith, and their growing feelings for one another.
The six-part series comes from Jack Thorne, the writer behind Adolescence, making it quite the departure from the Netflix hit. But beyond the stellar cast and pulse-racing chemistry, viewers are equally obsessed with the stunning filming locations featured throughout Falling.
So, where exactly was Falling filmed? Let’s take a trip.
And where is John Worboys today?
All of the Falling filming locations
Much of David’s storyline takes place within the local community in Bristol, with the production making use of real community spaces throughout filming. For example, the Nailsea Community Larder was used for a food bank scene, while a key moment featuring Anna and David walking through a park was filmed at Golden Valley Playing Fields in Nailsea, Bristol.
When Anna attempts to buy clothes for herself outside the convent, she is actually wandering through St David’s Shopping Centre in Cardiff. Meanwhile, the scene in which Anna, David and other members of the congregation visit Weston-super-Mare’s Grand Pier was genuinely filmed there. This may sound obvious, but TV magic has fooled us before.
Creator Jack Thorne, who was born in Bristol, said he wanted to use the series to spotlight “bits of Bristol that don’t get much attention.”
“I love telling stories about Bristol because it’s where I’m from,” he told Channel 4. “If the Clifton Suspension Bridge is in it, it’s only in a brief establishing shot. This is much more about the Lockleaze end of Bristol and the people living in and around there.
“It’s a city I love, so to set it there is joyful.”
Production also took place at The Bottle Yard Studios, one of the largest film and television studios in England. Interior sets for the convent, rectory and several other indoor locations were reportedly filmed there.
Wales has long been a go-to destination for film and television production. In fact, it’s the third-largest production hub in the UK. With its varied landscapes, cities and towns, the country can double for almost anywhere. Also, crucially, filming there is often more affordable thanks to support from Creative Wales and UK tax relief schemes.
Another recent hit series filmed in Wales? ITV’s Believe Me, which may have been set in London but largely used Cardiff as its filming backdrop.
And, of course, everyone wants to know: is Anna’s convent actually real? The answer is yes… sort of. The convent scenes in Falling were filmed at Ewenny Priory in Bridgend, Wales.
Founded in 1141 by Maurice de Londres — the noble son of one of the legendary Twelve Knights of Glamorgan — the priory was originally established as an offshoot of Gloucester’s Benedictine abbey. Today, it is considered one of the finest surviving examples of Norman Romanesque architecture in Wales.
The priory is still open to the public, continues to serve as a local parish church, and is regularly used as a wedding venue. Long before becoming a Falling filming location, it had already appeared on screen in series including A Discovery of Witches, Dope Girls, Casualty and Young Sherlock.
Now for David’s St Augustine’s Church, another major filming location in Falling. David’s parish church was actually filmed at St German's Church, located on Metal Street in Cardiff.
Unlike the ancient Ewenny Priory, St German’s is comparatively modern, although still historic in its own right. The church was built in the late 1880s in response to the area’s rapidly growing population.
Its name references Germanus of Auxerre, a Roman clergyman remembered for confronting Goar, the king of the Alans.
Watch Falling on Channel 4.
