Lake District transformed into TV set for new series

A new ITV drama is being filmed in the Lake District. It's called 'Safe House' and it will air in the Spring.

It tells the story of a troubled former police man, played by ex-Doctor Who actor Christopher Eccleston, who sets up a B&B with his wife (Marsha Thomason) in Coniston but it ends up being a safe house and secrets unfold.

60 cast and crew members have taken over Coniston for the last six weeks, turning a family home into a film set. A team of artists has spent about two months decorating every room.

A lot of the walls are fake because everything has to come down at the end, so lights can be screwed into false walls and any paint used is chalk-based so as not to damage the property at all.

Former Doctor Who star Christopher Eccleston plays Robert, who runs the safe house. As well as sporting his wellies in the countryside, he's learned the art of wild swimming in Coniston and several other lakes. It was his first time swimming in open water but he's really enjoyed it.

Christopher Eccleston enjoyed the Cumbrian countryside so much he'd like to come back to have a go at swims such as the Coniston Chill Swim and the Great North Swim. But he's even more keen to try fell running.

But Mr Eccleston says the real thing that has made his Cumbrian experience so enjoyable has been the people he's met along the way.

There are some other famous faces, such as Emmerdale's Jason Merrells. He and Marsha Thomason, who's also a northerner but lives in L.A. now say they've not been enjoying the rain.

The 4 part drama will be on our screens in the spring.