There’s been industry gossip for a while about EastEnders potentially filming location scenes in Scotland. I’ve picked up hints from people involved in production, and it sounds like it might actually be happening. Here’s what I’ve gathered.
EastEnders occasionally shoots on location for special episodes or specific storylines. It’s expensive, so they don’t do it lightly, but when a story requires it, they’ll go there. The suggestion is that an upcoming storyline might involve a Scottish location, and they’re looking at filming it for real rather than faking it in the studio.
Which storyline and which characters? That’s unclear. But EastEnders’ producers have been known to hint at big moves ahead of time to build anticipation. If they’re talking about Scotland shoots, it suggests something significant enough to justify the expense.
For the Scottish production industry, this would be good news. EastEnders brings crew, equipment, accommodation bookings. It brings visibility. If it’s a high profile storyline filmed in Scotland, you get Scottish locations on primetime BBC drama, which has its own benefits for tourism and cultural visibility.
The practicalities matter too. Where in Scotland would they film? Edinburgh’s the obvious choice because it’s recognizable and has infrastructure for film production. But Glasgow or another city is possible depending on the storyline. The location choice would be part of the story itself.
I’m skeptical until I see actual filming happening; entertainment industry rumours are notoriously unreliable; but if this is real, it’s interesting. British soaps filming Scotland is relatively rare. When it happens, it’s worth noting.