Is Karen Pirie a true story and where was it filmed?

Crime drama buffs settle in as your Sunday nights are going to get a lot more exciting as ITV's latest three-part murder drama series, Karen Pirie, premieres tonight, Sunday, September 25, at 8pm.

The story follows Detective Sergeant Karen Pirie (Lauren Lyle), a young and fearless Scottish investigator - with a quick mouth and tenacious desire for the truth - as she is thrust into the investigation of an unsolved murder case 25 years on after the crime becomes the subject of a popular true crime podcast. Find out more on the show here.

And while the plot of this brand new show sounds like the kind of a case that very well could be the subject of a real-life true crime podcast, it begs the question...

Is it actually a true story?

Unfortunately - or fortunately - ITV's new nail-biting drama Karen Pirie is fictional - similar to that of beloved crime drama Vera - and was only inspired by the first in a series of hit novels. Karen Pirie is the character work of best-selling Scottish writer Val McDermid and comes from her book The Distant Echo. The television series was adapted for television by British actress and screenwriter, Emer Kenny - who also stars in the show alongside Lauren Lyle who plays the show's lead. You can see the full Karen Pirie cast list here.

And while the character isn't based on anyone in particular, Lauren Lyle, who plays the title lead, explained what real-life research went into becoming Karen.

"It was really interesting when we were filming, we started at St Andrews Cathedral and one night we had police escorts with us. One of them was a twenty-something blonde woman, and it turns out she was a detective from Methil, the same tiny town Karen is from! To me, she was the real Karen Pirie. So we exchanged numbers and we stayed in touch, it was like looking into a mirror for Karen."

But while the shows story is rooted in fiction, the locations in which it was filmed are very much real.

Where is the show filmed?

Lauren Lyle as DS Karen Pirie in one of the show's stunning locations (ITV Picture Desk)

Karen Piri, both in the book and film, is set in Scotland - particularly in the beautiful university town of St Andrews in Fife - and its filming locations mirror that. According to Good To, the show filming locations include Kirkcaldy, St Andrews - the Cathedral and university, The Pends, Market Place, and Loch Lomond - and Glasgow, which just adds to the authentic feel of the show; the main character of the show is a Scottish investigator.

Speaking of filming in Scotland, Lauren Lyle said: "It’s beautiful having the series set in Scotland, some of the landscapes we have are phenomenal, up in Loch Lomond and in the mountains."

Chris Jenks, who plays DC Jason Murray, added: "The Scottish scenery really gives the drama a nice feeling and the whole series is a great advert for Scotland."

Karen Pirie starts on ITV and ITV Hub at 8pm on Sunday, September 25. All episodes will be available once the first has premiered.

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