Residents of Port Talbot are being warned to expect smoke, and lots of 'emergency vehicles and emergency workers in town this week.
But there is no need to panic - there is no major incident - at least not a real one anyway. The smoke, and emergency vehicles will all be fake, with actors playing the roles of emergency workers. They will be there for filming work carried out for BBC One. Whilst the actual programme being filmed has not been announced publicly, it's understood that the scenes will be part of an upcoming episode of a "long running BBC drama" - so you can probably have a good guess at which one.
Cameras will be rolling between 11am and 9pm on Monday, February 20, with further filming taking place on Tuesday, February 21, and Wednesday, February 22. Neath Port Talbot Council has advised that the filming is set to take place near Aberavon Green Stars RFC. The production team at BBC One have said they wish to advise local residents that their filming "is not a real emergency" and therefore people should not be alarmed if they see smoke and a seemingly high presence of emergency services personnel. You can get more Port Talbot news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
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Neath Port Talbot Council has issued a notice to local residents. It reads: "Please be aware a production team will be filming emergency scenes in Port Talbot in the coming days. The cameras will began rolling tomorrow between 11am and 9pm and will continue until Wednesday 22nd as crews film scenes which include a fire simulation for an upcoming episode for a long running BBC drama.
"Local residents around Aberavon Green Stars RFC have been advised to expect controlled smoke, a number of replica emergency vehicles and actors dressed in emergency services uniforms. The BBC One drama's production team wish to advise that the planned shoot is not a 'real emergency' and therefore people should not be alarmed. The team wish to thank residents for their cooperation for any disruption caused."
This filming is not the only to take place in Port Talbot this year. Earlier, we reported that Welsh actor Michael Sheen was returning to his home town to film new BBC series, The Way, later this year.
The three-part drama will showcase "the social and political chaos of today's world" through imagining a civil uprising in a small industrial town, the BBC says. It will follow the Driscoll family, a seemingly ordinary family who unexpectedly find themselves caught up in civil unrest and are forced to flee their home country.
Episodes will follow the family as they try and escape their old life, but continue to face memories of their past. Confirming the new series, Sheen said: "I'm such an admirer of Adam and James' work, so to create this project with them in these extraordinary times has been thrilling.
"I'm so excited to be telling this global story through the prism of my home town and its community as we dig into the rollercoaster ride of our recent past and the mysterious depths that lay beneath."
Director of drama at the BBC, Lindsay Salt, added: The Way is a brave new drama that is both deeply grounded in its authenticity yet packed with imaginative spirit, as we follow the incredible journey of one family. It's a privilege to be teaming up with Michael, James and Adam – three of our country’s most creative minds – to bring their vision to the BBC."
The Way will be the first production by Wales-based production company Red Seam, formed in 2019 by Sheen and producer Bethan Jones, and will be made in association with Cardiff-based Little Door Productions. Casting and further information is set to be announced later in the year.
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