We’re seeing a real rise in television tourism, where people take inspiration for their next holiday from their favourite TV shows. Yes, even from psychological thrillers like Number One Fan.
As a result, we’ve become obsessed with finding out where our favourite new series were filmed. From Missed Call to Temptation Island, we love seeing the real-life locations behind the backdrop. One of the biggest surprises was The Teacher filming locations, which weren’t even in the same country as viewers initially assumed.
This time, we’re turning our attention to the Number One Fan filming locations.
Starring the legendary Jill Halfpenny and Sally Lindsay, Number One Fan dives into the darker side of obsession and fandom. Halfpenny plays daytime TV presenter Lucy Logan, while Lindsay takes on the role of Donna, an unnervingly devoted and increasingly unhinged fan. As the story unfolds, viewers learn more about how their pasts are intertwined, and nothing could have prepared us for that Number One Fan ending.
Here’s where the new Channel 5 hit was filmed.
All the Number One Fan filming locations
Okay, ready for the big reveal? Just like The Teacher and The Game, Number One Fan was filmed in Spain. Yes, despite being set entirely in the UK, all the scenes set in Manchester were actually shot in the Basque region.
“We were in the Basque region in Vitoria," Halfpenny told TV Guide. "I filmed Girl Taken out there as well, so I knew the city but there wasn’t a lot of down time. You have weekends off. You go to the gym; you have some food, and you learn your lines for the next week. I would love to tell you that everyone was going out and having a right old time but with these shoots, the hours are very intense. But I loved working with Paul Wilmshurst, the director. He’s done so much and knew exactly what he wanted.”
Here are some specific examples.
Many Number One Fan scenes were filmed in the charming streets of Bilbao, the largest city in the Basque Country. Dubbed “The City of the Guggenheim,” Bilbao is home to the iconic Guggenheim Museum and its striking modern architecture.
Scenes at TVBX studios, where protagonist Lucy Logan presents her morning show, were shot at the E8 Building in the Álava Technology Park in Miñano, a sleek, modern complex frequently used for contemporary filming.
Vitoria-Gasteiz is often described as an under-the-radar alternative to Bilbao, making it an easier and more flexible option for filming.
Donna Hughes’ apartment block is the Aktur Lakua social housing development in Vitoria, designed by architects Francisco Mangado, Roberto Ercilla and Miguel Ángel Campo, known for its bold, modernist lines and residential scale.
Another scene filmed in Vitoria-Gasteiz’s Green Ring appears in episode four, where Lucy and her manager Mel share a glass of wine inside a building with kaleidoscopic stained-glass windows. The striking courtyard belongs to Hotel Jardines de Uleta Suites, adding a distinctive architectural backdrop to the moment.
That shocking twist unpacked.
While no scenes were filmed in Manchester, aerial shots of the city skyline feature in the final episode, including prominent landmarks such as Beetham Tower (also known as Hilton Manchester Deansgate). Manchester is used as the setting for Number One Fan due to its strong ties to the UK media industry.
Why did Number One Fan film in Spain?
UK productions frequently film in Spain to take advantage of a 30% to 54% tax rebate, lower overall production costs, and access to a wide range of landscapes—including deserts, beaches, and modern cities that aren’t always available in Britain.
While deserts and beaches weren’t heavily featured in Number One Fan, the year-round sunshine likely helped ensure consistent filming conditions. Spain also offers reliable weather, highly skilled local crews, and strong studio infrastructure, making it a cost-effective, versatile, and highly “film-friendly” alternative for UK productions.
You might be surprised by just how many UK TV shows have filmed in Spain, including The Crown and Killing Eve.
Watch Number One Fan on Channel 5.
