A BASINGSTOKE street has turned into a film set this evening for what is thought to be a BBC adaption of Kate Atkinson’s bestselling novel Life After Life, starring Thomasin McKenzie, Sian Clifford and James McArdle.

The cast and film crew came out of All Saints’ Church, in Southern Road, at about 5.30pm where filming then began on the street, with the camera crew having to stop every few minutes to let traffic and pedestrians past.

Basingstoke Gazette:

The scene appeared to be a wedding, with the cast standing outside the church renamed St Saviour’s Church, in Norwood, for the film, which was written on a temporary sign. Those filming outside the church were thought to include Fleabag actress Sian Clifford, Leave No Trace actress Thomasin McKenzie, and James McArdle, who was in Man In An Orange Shirt. 

Basingstoke Gazette:

A female actor, thought to be Thomasin McKenzie, who plays Ursula Todd, was seen holding a bouquet of flowers before hugging the other actors and getting into a vintage car with a ribbon tied to the front to drive off down the road.

Basingstoke Gazette:

A man dressed as a vicar was also seen photographing the wedding party for one scene. 

Basingstoke Gazette:

Filming for Life After Life began in April and also stars Jessica Brown Findlay and Jessica Hynes, directed by Bafta award-winning director John Crowley. It has been adapted by award-winning playwright Bash Doran. 

Basingstoke Gazette:

The story follows Ursula who is born in 1910 to Sylvie and Hugh (Sian Clifford and James McArdle), but dies before she draws her first breath.

However, she is then reborn that same night and survives, with her living and dying in different circumstances time and again.

The story follows Ursula in each new life, while the century marches on towards its second world war.

But does Ursula’s apparently infinite number of lives give her the power to save the world from its inevitable destiny?

Basingstoke Gazette:

The four-part adaption for BBC One is executive produced by Tessa Ross and Juliette Howell for House Productions, Lucy Richer and Ayela Butt for the BBC and Bash Doran, John Crowley and Kate Atkinson. Kate Ogborn is executive producer.

On site, locations manager Duncan told the Gazette this afternoon that the crew had been filming at The Vyne National Trust property in Sherborne St John in the morning, before relocating to the church near the Top of Town.