Broadchurch stars rub shoulders with locals in West Bay

HELLO: David Tennant in Ellipse HELLO: David Tennant in Ellipse

WEST Bay traders and business leaders are hoping that the ‘Broadchurch effect’ will trigger a bumper summer.

The team behind the website for the Bay, which plays a starring role in the high-profile eight-drama were amazed at the response as soon as the opening scenes, with spectacular clifftop footage, unfolded.

Tourism officials in Dorset have been working hard to maximise the benefits that the ITV1 series can bring to tourism in the west of the county.

The stunning scenery of the Jurassic coast is a major character in the series written by Chris Chibnall from Bridport and starring David Tennant, Olivia Colman and a host of other top TV names.

John May, of westbay.co.uk, said he was astounded to see that as soon as the opening credits rolled, the site was receiving more than 100 visitors a minute.

“It actually took me by surprise,” he said. “I expected some interest once the programme had finished.I checked the site statistics at the first commercial break and it had gone crazy. We have had double the normal number of visitors we would normally expect since the the programme.

“A lot of people are putting the site on their favourites, which means they can come back when they think of booking a visit. “It is a very good sign for this summer and we must keep our fingers crossed. And that was only the first episode – there are seven more to go.”

Meanwhile staff at the Ellipse bistro cafe in West Bay are waiting to see it appear on screen as it was taken over by the film crew.

“We can’t wait to see Ellipse on television,” said Steve Tucker, joint owner. “We could see something special was being created.

“And the response so far has been terrific as people are starting to research the area and wondering where this magnificent scenery is located.”

The fictional Broadchurch Police station is located just behind Ellipse.

“We were fortunate in that a lot of the filming happened around us, some scenes were filmed inside Ellipse, which was great fun,” Steve added.

The film crew and many of the actors were regular visitors to Ellipse, dropping in to get cups of coffee and hot chocolate. Staff member Pippa Horton was even an extra.

“We areproud to say that we were definitely their preferred coffee stop during their three visits to West Bay. The crew and actors were a pleasure to have around, becoming good friends over the course of filming.”

What did you think of episode two of Broadchurch?

Leave your comments here.

Comments(20)

Tinytone says...
8:20pm Mon 11 Mar 13

Is this going to be a regular feature in the Echo?

jmc1 says...
8:45pm Mon 11 Mar 13

Tinytone wrote:
Is this going to be a regular feature in the Echo?
Hope so. It's riveting.Not the one on the telly.

banknote says...
11:30pm Mon 11 Mar 13

Are there TV awards for the worse acting in a series??

VaguelyPurple says...
8:26am Tue 12 Mar 13

Do you reckon this'll be any longer lived, or any better remembered, than Harbour Lights, or any more succesful at raking in the touritsts?

Hedgehogwinter66 says...
8:31am Tue 12 Mar 13

Well its this kind of journalism which has got the Echo shortlisted for "Regional Newspaper of the Year" for the 4th year in a row apparently. Whether it has ever won before, or how long the shortlist is, is not mentioned.....Hahaha
ha

satisfecho says...
8:37am Tue 12 Mar 13

Tinytone wrote:
Is this going to be a regular feature in the Echo?
As Billy Connolly would say 'no one is forcing you to read this article, so if you don't like it turn the bl**dy page'

unexpected error says...
9:29am Tue 12 Mar 13

There was a lot of media hype before the programme started about it being the drama of 2013............is it me or is it just very slow and dare I say it boring?

I'm staying with it for one more episode and then even trying to spot places I know will have lost it's interest.

stench says...
9:40am Tue 12 Mar 13

what a bunch of whingers!

you moan when the Echo makes the County look bad, but them moan when they highlight a project that has been used to attract vistors.

It's this kind of attitude that results in one step forward, two steps back...

JimmyDavies says...
10:05am Tue 12 Mar 13

Agreed, anyone reading this for the first time but be thinking What a bunch of losers. Those that read it everyday, just ignore the negative comments day after day after day, I just don't get it. Is your life that bad that you have nothing better to do than to moan all the time. The fact that the local website got inundated with views during and after the programme is to me interesting. If the echo choose to publish information about it, it's not a prolem, if you don't like it, don't read it. Just for gods sake, enjoy your life and stop being so negative all the time.
(Awaits abuse, but not bothered in the slightest, go ahead)

Harpya Orkinus says...
11:21am Tue 12 Mar 13

Unfortunately, I haveny seen it yet, as Auntie Beeb very thoughtfully scheduled the 2-parter "Shetland" to coincide - or is it called "compete" these days? I thought when I bought my big flatscreen & DVD recorder that I was buying into "Watch one channel, record another", but apparently I can only record what I'm actually watching! Always assuming I could understand how to do it. At 71 1/2 years old, some of these fine details can become problematic. 'Tis the ambiguous language they use, I suspect! Should I watch "Broadchurch" from #3, I ask myself, and try to appreciate what occurred in parts 1 & 2, or should I just wait for the entire re-run ? Or perhaps it may be best to take the tacit advice above, and just give the whole thing a great big miss ??

unexpected error says...
11:41am Tue 12 Mar 13

Harpya Orkinus wrote:
Unfortunately, I haveny seen it yet, as Auntie Beeb very thoughtfully scheduled the 2-parter "Shetland" to coincide - or is it called "compete" these days? I thought when I bought my big flatscreen & DVD recorder that I was buying into "Watch one channel, record another", but apparently I can only record what I'm actually watching! Always assuming I could understand how to do it. At 71 1/2 years old, some of these fine details can become problematic. 'Tis the ambiguous language they use, I suspect! Should I watch "Broadchurch" from #3, I ask myself, and try to appreciate what occurred in parts 1 & 2, or should I just wait for the entire re-run ? Or perhaps it may be best to take the tacit advice above, and just give the whole thing a great big miss ??
It's bound to be repeated on ITV3, most dramas are at some point.

JamesYoung says...
3:16pm Tue 12 Mar 13

unexpected error wrote:
Harpya Orkinus wrote:
Unfortunately, I haveny seen it yet, as Auntie Beeb very thoughtfully scheduled the 2-parter "Shetland" to coincide - or is it called "compete" these days? I thought when I bought my big flatscreen & DVD recorder that I was buying into "Watch one channel, record another", but apparently I can only record what I'm actually watching! Always assuming I could understand how to do it. At 71 1/2 years old, some of these fine details can become problematic. 'Tis the ambiguous language they use, I suspect! Should I watch "Broadchurch" from #3, I ask myself, and try to appreciate what occurred in parts 1 & 2, or should I just wait for the entire re-run ? Or perhaps it may be best to take the tacit advice above, and just give the whole thing a great big miss ??
It's bound to be repeated on ITV3, most dramas are at some point.
If you've got a laptop, ipad or similar, you can watch all three episodes on itv.com/iplayer, you don't need to wait.

Is it me or is everything rubbish? says...
3:22pm Tue 12 Mar 13

I agree- there are so many armchair experts.

Of course, they can write amazing and award winning scripts, they are amazing Oscar worthy actors.

They could write and produce content for a local newspaper that covers a very quiet part of Dorset- every day.

If only we could harness their powers and use them for the power of good and not just leave them to drown in a sea of their own poisonous bile.

kildare43 says...
5:05pm Tue 12 Mar 13

stench wrote:
what a bunch of whingers!

you moan when the Echo makes the County look bad, but them moan when they highlight a project that has been used to attract vistors.

It's this kind of attitude that results in one step forward, two steps back...
Oh my Lord, it's hard enough now trying to get on the X53 to go about our daily lives..........someb
ody have a word with DCC and First Bus. Can we please have our 45 bus back?

JimmyDavies says...
12:11am Wed 13 Mar 13

kildare43 wrote:
stench wrote:
what a bunch of whingers!

you moan when the Echo makes the County look bad, but them moan when they highlight a project that has been used to attract vistors.

It's this kind of attitude that results in one step forward, two steps back...
Oh my Lord, it's hard enough now trying to get on the X53 to go about our daily lives..........someb

ody have a word with DCC and First Bus. Can we please have our 45 bus back?
Actually I don't remember anyone moaning about the echo making the council look bad at all.

Agree about the buses, what a disgusting carry on that is, First Bus just think they can do what they like, and their Bus drivers are so rude. they don't get it, they just don't get it.

But at the end of the day, councils, Buses, TV Programmes are not the fault of the Echo. Just frecking moaning for the sake of moaning is worthless.......Some
times the comments section is quite interesting and there are some good points.

wessex-andy says...
11:54am Wed 13 Mar 13

The program still looks very amateurish to me. It's not what I would refer to as "gripping", but it is interesting trying to spot where the scenes are -- even if some of them don't actually marry-up. I suppose that if one knows the area they will notice details that people from other areas would not.

Switching subjects, I have been under the impression that this part of the Echo website is for people to comment and put forward their own views, so I will refrain from complaining about the people who have different views to my own.

However, if you should feel the need, feel free to complain about what I have written. I will be interested in seeing what you think.

koeterwaals says...
1:28pm Wed 13 Mar 13

The only thing that makes it worth watching is the wonderful scenery.I thought it was rather slow moving and lacking in content.

Bob Goulding says...
1:52pm Wed 13 Mar 13

Has anyone else noticed that the link to this report says 'Second Broadchurch episode creates a buzz' but the content appears to predate this e.g. John May is quoted as saying

“A lot of people are putting the site on their favourites, which means they can come back when they think of booking a visit. “It is a very good sign for this summer and we must keep our fingers crossed. And that was only the first episode – there are seven more to go.”

Eight minus seven = 1 (i.e. the1st episode).

Sloppy reporting Echo.

stench says...
12:13pm Thu 14 Mar 13

JimmyDavies wrote:
kildare43 wrote:
stench wrote: what a bunch of whingers! you moan when the Echo makes the County look bad, but them moan when they highlight a project that has been used to attract vistors. It's this kind of attitude that results in one step forward, two steps back...
Oh my Lord, it's hard enough now trying to get on the X53 to go about our daily lives..........someb ody have a word with DCC and First Bus. Can we please have our 45 bus back?
Actually I don't remember anyone moaning about the echo making the council look bad at all. Agree about the buses, what a disgusting carry on that is, First Bus just think they can do what they like, and their Bus drivers are so rude. they don't get it, they just don't get it. But at the end of the day, councils, Buses, TV Programmes are not the fault of the Echo. Just frecking moaning for the sake of moaning is worthless.......Some times the comments section is quite interesting and there are some good points.
David Tennant is one of our country's best actors, and he is in Bridport.

I just dont see, how any negatives come from that. I would love to meet him.

But (without seeing the show yet), I hope it shows off the county as it should. Those who don't know about the coast, could see this and think 'that's my next holiday sorted'.

Oh, and my point wasnt aimed at the Echo. but more to the ones that can only see the negatives in any scenario

Bob Goulding says...
12:33pm Thu 14 Mar 13

stench wrote:
JimmyDavies wrote:
kildare43 wrote:
stench wrote: what a bunch of whingers! you moan when the Echo makes the County look bad, but them moan when they highlight a project that has been used to attract vistors. It's this kind of attitude that results in one step forward, two steps back...
Oh my Lord, it's hard enough now trying to get on the X53 to go about our daily lives..........someb ody have a word with DCC and First Bus. Can we please have our 45 bus back?
Actually I don't remember anyone moaning about the echo making the council look bad at all. Agree about the buses, what a disgusting carry on that is, First Bus just think they can do what they like, and their Bus drivers are so rude. they don't get it, they just don't get it. But at the end of the day, councils, Buses, TV Programmes are not the fault of the Echo. Just frecking moaning for the sake of moaning is worthless.......Some times the comments section is quite interesting and there are some good points.
David Tennant is one of our country's best actors, and he is in Bridport.

I just dont see, how any negatives come from that. I would love to meet him.

But (without seeing the show yet), I hope it shows off the county as it should. Those who don't know about the coast, could see this and think 'that's my next holiday sorted'.

Oh, and my point wasnt aimed at the Echo. but more to the ones that can only see the negatives in any scenario
I'm with you on this Stench. It's a pity that there is no such thing as a 'commudgen filter' to block these cynical and pointless posts.

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