North East filming locations for The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe

ITV’s The Thief, His Wife And The Canoe is set on the infamous story of ‘canoe man’ John Darwin and his wife Anne, and their fraudulent plan to trick the police and public by faking his death.

Although the saga first started 20 years ago there is a renewed interest in the story since it was first aired on Sunday.

The four-part series was filmed around Hartlepool, Seaton Carew and Middlesbrough last year and locals have recalled seeing actors on set on their doorsteps.

Seaton Carew

Crowds gathered along The Front in Seaton Carew in April last year during filming and scenes shot here can be seen in the first two episodes.

Footage shows Monica Dolan, who plays John’s wife Anne Darwin, using a telephone box outside the Golden Sands amusements. However, the telephone box was just a prop and is not in place in real life.

Later footage in the mini-series also shows a bearded and dishevelled-looking Eddie Marsan, who plays John Darwin, walking with a stick and sitting down at Seaton Carew bus station.

The amusements was used as a backdrop for one of the scenes. Pictures:SARAH CALDECOTT

Read more: Writer defends North East accents in John Darwin ITV drama

The Headland

Despite the TV drama making out that Darwin entered the sea in his canoe just outside his doorstep, filming actually took place on the other side of Hartlepool.

Film crews and Eddie Marsan were spotted paddling in a red canoe off the shore in early May. Onlookers watched on as camera crews shot scenes from the beach.

The Headland's Heugh Breakwater was used when Anne Darwin and her two son’s dropped a wreath.

The Steetley Pier can also be seen in one scene. 

Middlesbrough

Although harder to spot when watching, filming also took place along St Hilda’s, near the Middlehaven development, in Middlesbrough for some scenes involving Anne Darwin.

Later scenes also show Eddie Marsan stood opposite the Transporter Bridge with a rucksack on his back while he wated for a bus.

The pair were also captured driving a car along Zetland Street.

Middlesbrough's Transporter Bridge

Read more: Seaton Carew hotel is scrapping 'canoe man' branding after ITV John Darwin drama

The Darwin’s former property

Despite the couple formerly owning two properties on The Cliff, in Seaton Carew, no filming took place here. Interior shots were instead based on their interior and filmed in purpose-built sets at specialist studios.

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