Writing Austen - Part Four

Series Producer and Writer Peter Eryl Lloyd gives an account of the writing challenges behind Doctors’ special two parter: ‘Austenland’

July '13

The shoot was both pleasurable and nerve wracking – Hanbury Hall looked amazing and the staff were incredibly obliging; the weather was perfect – a slight drizzle in the Wentworth scene, but you couldn’t tell on camera. The crew worked tirelessly and director Dominic was calm but determined – I could go on about Andy’s lighting and Pat’s costumes and Trish’s wigwork, but suffice to say I was very proud of the team. But what I largely felt on location was … redundant. I spent years working my socks off on drama crews in various guises – but as a Series Producer on set, you have little to do but be supportive and try not to get in anyone’s way.

It was exhausting – we were shooting from noon til midnight, which messes up everyone’s body clock; people got testy, the actors wilted in heavy costumes and we were really close to the wire on the last night. But incredibly, we got it done. Or rather they got it done, I just cheered from the sidelines. Libby Hopper had been excellent, pulling the whole piece together with a clever performance that was both of the times and heartfelt. I was proud of the cast, who were flitting between the Hall and manning receptions/visiting patients in the mornings.

Am I pleased with the final result? Very. There will always be little niggles and cuts that I feel bad about, but that’s all part of the process and you have to trust other people’s skills – they do know what they’re doing. My one regret is that we didn’t get to hear much of Elisabeth’s song when she’d worked so hard on it, but there may be a way to get that in somewhere else….

I hope the viewers enjoy it as much as we enjoyed making it. It was hard work, but I hope rewarding and with luck, sets off the Austen week with a polite bang.