Murder Most Puzzling on Channel 5 filming locations explored

Murder Most Puzzling filming locations: Where Channel 5 murder mystery is set, and if Bakerbury is real

Helen Fear | 12:01am Thu 19 Jun | Updated 3:30pm Wed 11 Jun

Murder Most Puzzling fans may recognise some of the beautiful filming locations used in the Channel 5 cosy crime drama – because they’ve been centre stage of a brilliant TV drama before.

Phyllis Logan portrays leading lady Cora Felton, the sharp-witted ‘Puzzle Lady’ who “has a remarkable talent for solving murders”… If only she wasn’t hiding a pretty epic secret of her own.

As well as the intriguing storyline, and a cast of famous (and not so famous) faces, there’s another clear star of the show. And that’s the background…

So where is it set, and where was it filmed – which can be too very different things! Here’s everything we know so far about the filming locations used in Murder Most Puzzling.

We’ll give you a clue about the filming locations in Murder Most Puzzling – it’s very green! [Credit: Channel 5]

Is Bakerbury a real place?

Murder Most Puzzling is set in Bakerbury, which is described as a “sleepy market town”. However, as it turns out, Bakerbury isn’t as sleepy as it looks…

In episode on of the Channel 5 cosy crime, the local police are baffled by a crossword puzzle left on a dead body. With their case going nowhere, they turn reluctantly to Cora Felton, a recent arrival in Bakerbury…

But don’t worry, Bakerbury is NOT a real place. Like Midsomer in Midsomer Murders, and Saint Marie in Death in Paradise, the murders are taking place in a fictional town. Phew.

Murder Most Puzzling filming locations

The new three-part series was actually filmed in Northern Ireland, specifically Belfast. Talking about filming, Charlotte Hope – who plays Cora’s niece – Sherry Carter said: “I really loved filming in Belfast. The crews there are famously excellent craic and I had really great time with them.”

Meanwhile, Anton Grant actor Alistair Brammer added: “It was great for me because I actually live in Belfast. My family moved here during the pandemic. It’s been great for me because there are so many dramas shooting here and I don’t like being away from home, so it’s always a dream to work in Belfast. It meant that when I wasn’t filming, I could be at home with my two kids so that my wife could go to work.”

Alistair is married to Rachel Forde, who is Northern Irish. The actor got lucky on Dalgliesh, too. The detective drama, which also airs on C5, is also filmed in Belfast!

Alistair Brammer as Anton in Murder Most Puzzling

Alistair Brammer, who plays Anton in Murder Most Puzzling, actually lives in Belfast [Credit: Channel 5]

Cast and crew filmed Murder Most Puzzling in Belfast

The cast and crew of Murder Most Puzzling filmed mostly in and around the streets of Belfast, Northern Ireland. Belfast is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, located on the north-east coast of the island on the banks of the River Lagan.

Scenes were filmed specifically in Belfast’s city centre, the Botanic Gardens, and Queen’s University. Other notable locations used include areas like Ballymena, a town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

Local news reports also highlighted the following filming locations:

Blinkers café on Bridge Street.

The Big Fish sculpture, a famous Belfast landmark.

The John Hewitt pub, a popular pub in the city.

HMS Belfast, a historic warship and museum.

Ballywalter, Co Down, a scenic area outside of Belfast.

Shane’s Castle in Antrim.

What other TV shows have been set in Belfast, Ireland?

Belfast is a beautiful city with a rich history, dating back to the early 17th century. It’s famous for its cathedral, city hall, Victoria Square dome, and Albert Clock. So it’s no surprise that more and more TV shows are being filmed there.

TV shows that have used Belfast as a filming location include Game of Thrones, Derry Girls, Line of Duty, The Fall, Marcella, Bloodlands, Dalgliesh, and Dublin Murders.

Most famously, perhaps, BBC One police drama Blue Lights is also set and filmed in Belfast. The series, which follows rookie police officers working in a post-conflict environment, is filmed in various locations throughout Northern Ireland, including the city of Belfast.

So it’s perhaps no surprise that several Blue Lights cast members also appear in Murder Most Puzzling, including Adam Best, Dearbháile McKinney, and Lata Sharma.