The Responder is the new crime drama airing on BBC One starring Martin Freeman (The Hobbit, Sherlock) as urgent response officer Chris Carson.
The five-part series, which premiered on January 24, draws inspiration from the experiences of the show’s writer Tony Schumacher, an ex-police officer.
The Responder follows Carson, a morally compromised and crisis-stricken officer across five night shifts.
The show was filmed in and around Liverpool, with Schumacher explaining: "I set the story at night-time in Liverpool because there’s a real peace about the night that I love. I worked for 10 years as a copper and I drove a taxi for five years working nights in both jobs."
Here’s what you need to know about the exact filming locations for the drama.
Where was The Responder filmed?
The show's crew was previously seen filming around Merseyside. Later, the BBC revealed one of the locations for filming would be Lark Lane, where the crew were stationed for two days.
Back in April 2021, they were also spotted filming in Everton, with Freeman seen in a police uniform walking towards his character’s car on Richmond Row.
Production for the series then moved 11 miles from Liverpool to St Helens in Merseyside in May 2021, with "filming in progress" signs spotted in Taylor Park.
That same month, the crew shot in Meols on the north coast of the Wirral peninsula, about a 20-minute drive from Liverpool.
Why was Liverpool chosen for filming of The Responder?
Asked how Liverpool fits into the story Schumacher said: "I’ve been all around the world in my life doing various jobs, some good and some bad. I did stand-up comedy for a few years and I travelled a lot, but to me Liverpool is unique."
He added that it was "was incredible to watch" Martin's character driving round the streets that he once drove around, "sitting in a police car I had once driven".
He also said: "Our director, Tim Mielants, really understands Liverpool - he knows it like the back of his hand because of his work on Peaky Blinders, and really gets the ‘darkness’ of the night."
The funding for the show - which is based on Schumacher's own experiences as a police officer - also came from the Liverpool Film Office through the LCR Production fund.
When did filming for The Responder take place?
The Responder was announced in February 2021, but production was halted due to the pandemic. Covid restrictions when filming finally began meant that members of the public were asked not to attend or gather around the set and location.
After several delays, the show finally premiered at 9pm on January 24, 2022. It will continue airing on Monday and Tuesday at 9pm on BBC One.
