Written by on Oct 2, 2015. Posted in On Location

BBC films new drama From Darkness in Scottish Highlands

The BBC filmed part of its new crime drama From Darkness in Argyll, western Scotland, using the mainland as a stand-in for the Western Isles. Anne-Marie Duff stars in the production as a former police officer who moves to the Isles with her family as she flees her past.

“It was absolutely stunning, magical,” said Duff of the Scottish leg of the shoot: “We were there for three weeks and we had Greek island sun the whole time pretty much.

"Nobody could believe it – we had the most glorious weather. The crew was all suntanned [and] everybody else had this sort of holiday.

“It was great just to be by the sea - it’s so good for your soul, your head and your heart and we giggled the whole time. The happiest part of the story is when Claire (her character) is at home in Scotland, so there was a different feeling to the rest of the shoot which is so urban, dark and complex.”

The BBC chose to film on the mainland rather than in the Western Isles themselves as the production logistics were easier.

“I understand the disappointment some have expressed that this series has not actually been filmed on the Inner Hebridean island location which is supposed to be depicted in the programme,” said Jamie McGrigor, Highlands and Islands Conservative MSP, in comments to the Scottish Herald.

“Obviously filming on any island community would be beneficial to that local economy and very helpful in promoting the wonderful scenery of our Hebridean islands.

“However, at least the filming has been done elsewhere in the Highlands & Islands region and I hope that the fantastic setting of where it was filmed will help boost the profile of the entire Highlands & Islands region and encourage more tourists to visit.”

Michael Fassbender’s adaptation of Macbeth filmed partly on the Isle of Skye and the film is to be used as part of a VisitScotland film tourism campaign.