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Doctor Foster filming damaging sales, say traders

Katy Prickettand
Holly Nichols,in Hitchin
News imageHolly Nichols/BBC A cobbled street in Hitchin where a film crew are filming a drama. On either side are shops, on the right there are tables and chairs on the pavement. In the middle of the street is a red barrier with the film crew. A mix of men and women are milling around, fiddling with cameras. On the left foreground is a sign resting on the ground, saying CAUTION FILMING IN PROGRESS.Holly Nichols/BBC
The award-winning Doctor Foster is using Hitchin as the backdrop to the drama for the second time

Some traders in the middle of a market town say sales have suffered after the third and final series of Doctor Foster began filming there.

The popular BBC drama starring Suranne Jones is returning, nine years after the second series aired. It is being filmed in Hitchin, Hertfordshire.

Deli owner Kim Maclarty said "footfall was down to about 15% of what I'd normally have" as a result of some streets being blocked off, while greengrocer Andrew Webb said "sometimes it's not even worth being open".

But other businesses and shoppers have been celebrating the return of filming, and a spokesperson for the drama asked any traders with concerns to contact them.

News imageSuranne Jones as Doctor Foster. She has a short mid-brown bob blowing in the wind, has turned her head to look towards the right and is wearing a navy jacket. She is outside and behind her is the corner of a brick wall on the left and a wooden fence behind her.
Actress Suranne Jones previously said she "knew the time was right" to return to her role as Gemma Foster

The first series of Doctor Foster saw Jones' character Gemma, a doctor in the fictional town of Parminster, discover her husband Simon was having an affair.

It aired in 2015, and was followed by a second series in 2017, with nearly 10 million people watching the finale.

The first series was also filmed in Hitchin, unlike the second.

News imageHolly Nichols/BBC Kim Maclarty standing outside in a cobbled street. She has dark blonde hair with glasses perched on her head, a grey and green woven scarf around her neck and a grey long-sleeved top on. Behind her are shopfronts with tables and chairs in front and on the left a film crew is working between two red barriers. Holly Nichols/BBC
Kim Maclarty feels the businesses and locals have not been treated with respect

Maclarty admitted she had mixed emotions about the production company rolling into town.

"I'm always happy for people to be enterprising and drive business, but I think the thing that's concerning for me and other businesses around here is it's fundamentally stopping footfall to this part of town," said the 53-year-old, who owns a deli on Market Place.

"They've stopped people going to shops."

One of her customers used a mobility scooter and said she was prevented from leaving the shop until filming stopped.

Maclarty explained: "I've lost two days' trade already and tomorrow's just going to be another one... [in terms of footfall] I'm probably down to about 15% of what I'd normally have."

News imageHolly Nichols/BBC Andrew Webb who has a grey and light brown beard and is wearing a black hoody. He is standing in his greengrocers. Behind him are shelves with eggs, honey, lettuces, spring onions and brown onions. Holly Nichols/BBC
Andrew Webb said the impact on trade was worse than the previous time the drama had been filmed in Hitchin

Webb, a greengrocer on Churchyard Walk, said he had also witnessed people being stopped and told to turn around by film crews.

"We love the fact that Hitchin is popular with the film companies, but it does have a huge impact on trade and it hits us majorly to the point that sometimes it's not even worth being open while this is going on," said the 53-year-old.

As a fresh food shop, the lack of footfall means he has to throw away some of his stock.

News imageHolly Nichols/BBC Roisin McNeill standing inside a cafe with a green tiled wall behind her on the right and three people sitting at tables behind her on the left. She has light brown hair pulled back from her forehead and neck and is wearing a white round-necked T-shirt. Holly Nichols/BBC
But cafe manager Roisin McNeill said customers were coming in to watch the filming

On the other hand, Roisin McNeill's cafe on Churchyard was bustling with customers.

The 30-year-old said: "It's definitely really busy, quite a lot of takeaway drinks today.

"For a Tuesday, it's definitely feeling more like a Saturday."

She said she had received plenty of orders from the production crew, while her customers had enjoyed sitting in the sunshine watching them at work.

Kirsty Norgan, 55, front of house manager for the Visit Hitchin tourism office, said she was "really pleased" producers had returned to film in the "beautiful market town".

"It's vibrant, the buildings are stunning, the market square is the centrepiece which everybody comes to... hopefully it's positive for the businesses... and we'll watch it and see Hitchin at its best," she commented.

News imageHolly Nichol/BBC A woman and man standing side by side in a street. The woman has short blonde hair and is wearing a cream patterned scarf over a cream fleece. The man has short white hair and is wearing a navy fleece jacket over a zipped up jumper and shirt. Behind them is the corner of a street with part of a navy sign saying Nationwide and a man is standing in front of a cashpoint. A street stretches off behind them. Holly Nichol/BBC
Gill Harding and Nigel Costin look forward to seeing their town as the backdrop to Doctor Forster

Gill Harding, 72, and Nigel Costin, 79, were among the shoppers who enjoyed having the film crew in town.

Harding was looking forward to spotting local landmarks in the forthcoming series, and Costin said it was a good advertisement for "such a beautiful town".

News imageHolly Nichol/BBC Jan and Grace Moore standing in a market square in Hitchin. Grace is on the left, with pulled back mid brown hair, her dark glasses on the top of her head and wearing a grey hoodie. Jan is on the right and has blonde shoulder length hair, has her dark glasses on the top of her head and is wearing a beige funnel neck jumper. They are both smiling. Holly Nichol/BBC
Grace Moore (left) said she would start watching Doctor Foster as it was filmed locally, while her mum Jan is already a fan of the programme

Jan Moore, who was out with her daughter Grace, 22, was also delighted Hitchin would once again be a backdrop for the show.

"Hitchin is such a lovely market town, it's got a good feel about it, it's aesthetically nice, it's pleasing, so yeah, I think it's good for the town," said the 60-year-old.

A Doctor Foster spokesperson said: "We love filming in Hitchin and are delighted to hear how the majority of business owners you spoke to have been happy to have us back in the town.

"Although we've not received any negative feedback directly, we've supplied a contact address for anyone who wishes to get in touch with us to discuss any concerns they may have."

A broadcast date for the final series will be announced in due course.

News imageHolly Nichols/BBC A cobbled street in Hitchin where a film crew are filming a drama. On the right are various shop awnings. In the middle, an awning has been put up by the film crew on metal legs. There is a camera gantry on the floor with a seat on wheels. Men are milling around looking at lights or cameras. A woman in the foreground on the left with her back to us is wearing a hat, coat, jeans and boots and has a handbag in her left hand. On the right is a backview of another woman with blonde hair, wearing a black coat and a bag over her shoulder. Holly Nichols/BBC
Writer, creator and executive producer Mike Bartlett said the series would tell the final part of Gemma's story

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