A POPULAR BBC drama has returned to screens after eagle-eyed residents noticed film crews in the area last summer.

As reported last year, BBC film crews were spotted in Atherton and Tyldesley which got residents excited about the return of the crime drama Sherwood.

A crime drama inspired by real life murders in Nottinghamshire, Sherwood investigates crimes in communities that have become increasingly polarised since the 1980s miners strikes.

Starring David Morrisey, Lorraine Ashbounre, and Lesley Manville, the Guardian gave series one, first broadcast in June 2022, a five-star review, while the Telegraph called it the "best BBC drama of the year".

After a two-year wait, Sherwood's second series finally aired on Sunday, August 25, with the Guardian giving it a five star review yet again.

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The series The series looks into crimes in a former mining town (Image: BBC/House Productions/Sam Taylor)
While the series is set in a Nottinghamshire mining village, many of its scenes have been filmed in and around the borough.

Series one included filming at Astley and Tyldesley Miners' Welfare Institute, as well as locations around Rivington and Manchester.

Production teams returned to the area for season two, with production teams spotted along Elliott Street in Tyldesley, around Pennington Flash in Leigh, as well as around Victoria Mill in Atherton.

Eagle-eyed viewers also noticed Mike Ince Car Sales Office, on St Helens Road, used in a shot.

Mike Ince Car Sales as shown on the seriesMike Ince Car Sales as shown on the series (Image: Martyn Jones/ BBC Studios)
Other locations used for filming include Ellesmere Road Social Club in Morris Green, Bolton, as well as areas in Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, and Skegness.

With season two of Sherwood launching with a double bill over the Bank Holiday weekend, the remaining episodes will air weekly on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.