Excitement is building for the highly anticipated new Netflix series The Stranger, which was filmed in various locations across Greater Manchester over the summer.
Based on Harlan Coben’s mystery thriller novel of the same name, the eight-part series features The Hobbit’s Richard Armitage in the lead role of Adam Price, whose idyllic life falls apart when a chance meeting with a mysterious woman entangles him in a conspiracy.
First-look images of the cast, including Richard, Jennifer Saunders, Hannah John-Kamen, Siobhan Finneran and Kadiff Kirwan have been released - and if you look closely, you may be able to work out where they were taken.
In one snap, Richard’s character Adam can be seen looking anxious while on the phone - eagle-eyed readers might be able to tell that this was taken at Monton Sports Club.
That location was also used for a second image of Hannah John-Kamen standing next to a car. Her character, the mysterious woman who throws Adam’s life into turmoil, is wearing a cap as if she’s trying to keep herself hidden.
Another image is of Siobhan Finneran, as DS Johanna Griffin, and Kadiff Kirwan, as DC Wesley Ross, in the woods.
You’ll have to go a little further out than Greater Manchester for this one - it’s Whitefield Car Park in Delamere Forest, Cheshire.
The final photo sees Jennifer Saunders, who plays Johanna’s best mate Heidi, hugging another character while standing under some very familiar arches… You guessed it, it’s in St Peter’s Square in the city centre.
The new drama reunites Coben with Rochdale-born executive producer Nicola Shindler and lead writer and executive producer Danny Brocklehurst, from Hyde.
Paul Kaye, Anthony Head, Shaun Dooley, Dervla Kirwan and Stephen Rea also star in the series.
A teaser video has already been released by Red Productions, which sets the scene perfectly - Armitage's Adam can be seen sitting in a diner minding his own business when he is approached by a mystery woman.
“Wife left you to it, has she?” she asks.
They engage in a little small talk before she says out of the blue: “You didn’t have to stay with her, you know.”
Confused, Adam asks what she means, to which the woman replies: “Corinne, you didn’t have to stay with her when she said she was pregnant.”
She goes on to drop the bombshell that she was never pregnant or had a miscarriage - she made it up.
When a shocked Adam asks who she is, she replies: “Think of me as a stranger. The stranger that knows.”
Back in August Harlan spoke to the Manchester Evening News and took us on a virtual journey across the city and surrounding districts to the locations the series used for filming.
Harlan, who is from New Jersey, fell in love with the area while shooting for another Netflix series, Safe - and he couldn't wait to return for the TV adaption of his latest thriller.
The writer marked off a number of places in Bolton, south Manchester, Eccles and Stockport.
He revealed: “If you thought Safe had a twist, wait until you watch The Stranger. That is one thing I pride myself on. There are a lot of twists and turns.”
Harlan Coben’s The Stranger, coming soon to Netflix.
