SOMETHING strange landed in the town centre this week as cameras rolled into Victoria Square for a new Netflix thriller series.

Entitled The Stranger, the show is the latest TV series and film production to lend Bolton a starring role, following in the footsteps of an ever increasing number of broadcasters and streaming sites utilising the town’s stunning architecture and natural beauty spots.

Films crews on The Stranger have been shooting in locations around Bolton for several weeks now, including in Le Mans Crescent and at the council offices and former magistrate’s court.

On Monday several of the show’s biggest stars were spied on Victoria Square, including Siobhan Finneran who has previously appeared in Happy Valley and Downton Abbey. 

Earlier this year film crews were also spotted shooting for The Stranger in Bury — decking the set like a lurid police crime scene centred around the grisly mocked-up corpse of an animal — and at Ancoats’ Royal Mills apartment building, in Manchester.

Based on Harlan Coben’s novel of the same name, the eight-part series stars The Hobbit’s Richard Armitage in the lead role as Adam Price.

The psychological thriller follows Adam as his seemingly perfect life is turned upside down.

Blessed with two wonderful sons and a watertight marriage, one night Adam is joined at a bar by a stranger who shares a shocking secret about his wife, Corrine.

Adam is quickly consumed in a mysterious web of deception, becoming ensnared in conspiracy far more sinister than his wife’s deceit, and one which could have disastrous and even life-threatening consequences.

Joining Richard in the cast is Absolutely Fabulous’s Jennifer Saunders, as well as Ant Man and The Wasp villain Hannah John-Kamen, Broadchurch’s Shaun Dooley, Game of Throne’s Paul Kaye, Strike Back’s Dervla Kirwan, Black Mirror’s Kadiff Kirwan, Buffy The Vampire Slayer’s Anthony Head and Oscar-nominated actor and star of The Crying Game Stephen Rea.

The drama also reunites Coben and executive producer Nicola Shindler with writer Danny Brocklehurst.

Anthony Head said: “I am so pleased to be working with Nicola Shindler and Harlan Coben. 

“They’ve both built such brilliant reputations, creating shows in which mystery runs dark and deep, while being utterly believable.
“The Stranger is just such a fantastic script – Harlan’s concept is genius.”
A release date for the series is yet to be confirmed.