A NEW television series based on a Bernard Cornwell’s novel The Winter King is being filmed in the local area, with crews recently using wildlife park Tropiquaria as a base.

The 10-part series is being produced by Bad Wolf Productions, which is also involved in the upcoming Doctor Who 60th anniversary series.

Crews have used Tropiquaria as base for filming within around a five-mile radius of the Watchet wildlife park and aquarium.

Describing the series, the Bad Wolf website said: “Based on Bernard Cornwell’s Warlord Chronicles, The Winter King is an epic but intimate 10 part returning series which will shoot in Wales and the West Country in 2022.

“Portraying a revisionist take on the well-loved Arthurian legends, the series follows Arthur Pendragon as he evolves from outcast son to legendary warrior and leader. 

“The Winter King is set in the fifth century, long before Britain was united, in a land of warring factions and tribes when the world was brutal, and lives were often fleeting.

“The series is being produced by Bad Wolf, in association with One Big Picture, with international distribution being handled by Sony Pictures Television.”

Kate Brooke (A Discovery of Witches, Bancroft) and Ed Whitmore (Manhunt, Rillington Place) are adapting Cornwell’s novel for the series, and Otto Bathurst (His Dark Materials, Halo) will be its lead director.

Chris Moiser, one of the directors at Tropiquaria, said: “We’re lucky to have hosted them. We had lots of vehicles on site, but it didn’t stop our visitors coming in.

“They were all delightful people. They did all they could not to disturb our visitors. Hopefully, it will encourage more filming opportunities in the local area.”

Chris said the vehicles stored at Tropiquaria while filming in the surrounding area was ongoing included camera crews, dressing rooms, catering facilities, and make-up trailers.

Other Bad Wolf productions include crime drama The Night Of, fantasy show His Dark Materials, and comedy drama I Hate Suzie.

In September, it was announced that the company has partnered with the BBC to co-produce the next series of Doctor Who.

The next series of Doctor Who will see Russell T Davies return after he revived the popular science-fiction show in 2005.

Bad Wolf is based in south Wales and Los Angeles. 

The Winter King is one of several upcoming high-profile television and film productions that have featured locations in Somerset.

A film based on the role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons that was partly filmed in Wells will have its first reveal shown next week.

The reboot film will have its first presentation at San Diego Comic-Con after film crews descended on Wells Cathedral and Bishop’s Palace last year.

Actors including Chris Pine and child star Chloe Coleman were spotted in the Somerset city. The cast also features Hugh Grant, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, Jason Wong, and Daisy Head.

Production vehicles for the Netflix series Straight Shooter were also spotted setting up in Wells in February.