Rye to be airedon the BBC thisChristmass


The three part mini-series was filmed in the town in idyllic weather over the summer months using locations such as Lamb House, Church Square and Market Street.
The first episode is being broadcast on BBC 1 at 9.05pm on December 29 and will be shown at the same time on 30 and 31.
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Hide AdMapp and Lucia was written by former Rye Mayor E F Benson and concerns a game of social one-upmanship (or womanship) between newcomer Emmeline “Lucia” Lucas and resident queen bee Elizabeth Mapp.
The BBC adaptation was written by Steve Pemberton and stars Miranda Richardson, Anna Chancellor and Mark Gatiss and features local people as extras.
Mark Gattis commented: “It is timeless. We filmed in the Church Square and it’s so confined and tiny, everyone in and out of everyone’s lives.”
Commenting on the leading ladies, Gattis said: ““There are not that many actresses who can do the drama and the comedy… it really isn’t easy to get that lightness of touch.”
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Hide AdOne scene shows Market Street as it would have been with an old traditional butcher’s shop and there is a scene from the look-out at Watchbell Street overlooking the Marsh.
For the series, the summer house at the rear of Lamb House was reconstructed. The original was destroyed by a German bomb in the last war.
Jane Ellis, tourism marketing officer for 1066 Country believes the series will generate interest in Rye and attract more visitors.
She said: “Benson wrote of Rye ‘there is not in all England a town so blatantly picturesque as Tilling’.
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Hide Ad“During his time in Rye, Benson lived at Lamb House, former home of Henry James.
“People can visit St Mary the Virgin church to view the stained glass window he donated and spot Benson’ portrait and his dog incorporated into the picture.”