New BBC/HBO drama Rain Dogs, starring Daisy May Cooper, filmed across nearly 80 locations in and around Bristol, doubling many of the locations for London where much of the story is set. 

Filming began in March last year, with the series being delivered as 8 x 60’ episodes.

Production was based at The Bottle Yard Studios, where sets were built; Bristol Film Office assisted the location shooting.

Rain Dogs comes from Sid Wild, the new development and production arm of Sid Gentle Films; Cash Carraway is the writer/creator. Daisy May Cooper stars with Jack Farthing, Ronk? Adékolu?jo, Adrian Edmondson and Fleur Tashjian in her debut role. 

 
The drama chronicles the life of Costello Jones (Cooper), a devoted mother who wants more for her young daughter, Iris (Tashjian). As she hustles to survive, Costello leans on Selby Iris’ pseudo father, and Gloria, the duo’s loyal yet chaotic godmother/best friend. Together they form a makeshift swaggerous family bound by a complex but deep-rooted love and defiance towards a system built against them.

Bristol-based producer Ciara McIlvenny (Sid Wild) said: “Making Rain Dogs in Bristol has been a great experience – it’s an incredibly film friendly city, it felt like everyone really wanted us to be here. We were lucky to have a brilliant, talented and hard-working crew, around 70% of whom were based in Bristol and the West. 

“The Film Office were accommodating and very helpful and The Bottle Yard Studios were a fantastic partner. The shoot had 78 locations in total, which is an extraordinary amount. We did just two days in London, everything else was filmed in Bristol and the South West. It was an exciting place to film and we are looking forward to making many more shows here.”
 

Senior film manager Laura Aviles (Bristol City Council) added: “Bristol continues to punch well above its weight as a filming destination for High End TV drama. The fact that a company of Sid Gentle’s calibre established their first out-of-London arm in Bristol is a ringing endorsement for the filming infrastructure the city offers, supported by our Film Office and Bottle Yard teams. 

“The release of Rain Dogs, the first title made under the Sid Wild arm, on HBO and the BBC marks yet another primetime drama made in Bristol and enjoyed the world over.”

Photos courtesy of Sid Gentle.