Bath is buzzing with film crew activity at the moment and l bumped into two of the actors involved in the shoot, at the gym this morning.
Not that l confront every new face that l spot between press ups, but one of today’s strangers was sporting mutton chops.
That’s long sideburns to the uninitiated. Like what Martin Salter models – while dressed as Mr Bennet outside the Jane Austen Centre.
I just happened to wonder whether such 19th century must-haves were making a comeback amongst today’s young male trendies.
Ah, said the young man, l am an actor and we are filming a period drama up at the Assembly Rooms.
Turns out it’s a new series called Bridgerton due for release on Netflix in 2020.
Phoebe Dynevor (best known for her roles in Waterloo Road and Snatch) leads the cast in a plot based on the novels by American author Julia Quinn.
Phoebe plays Daphne Bridgerton – the ‘perfect young debutante who has been waiting her entire life to make her grand debut on the marriage mart’ – within the sexy, lavish and competitive world of Regency London high society.
They have even roped in Julie Andrews – Oscar-winning star of Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music – to provide the voice of another character from 1813 – the mysterious and sharp tongued gossip writer Lady Whistledown.
Got a feeling that the Concert Room at the Assembly Rooms is being used to replicate a glittering Mayfair ballroom scene as l watched riggers blacking out the windows for today’s filming.
Looking through cast pictures l am wondering if that young man with the mutton chops is Broadchurch’s Jonathan Bailey.
If he is there tomorrow morning, l will ask him!
