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Liar, by the makers of Broadchurch and Poldark, features Deal and airs tonight

Two conflicting recollections of one night is the basis on a new television drama which was filmed in Deal and will air tonight.

Liar is a six-part thriller, produced by the same people behind hit TV shows Broadchurch, The Living and the Dead, and Poldark.

It stars Joanne Froggatt, known for her role in Downtown Abbey and Ioan Gruffudd of Hornblower, who both admit they were hooked by the script from the moment they picked it up.

Liar, filmed in Deal, will air on ITV today (Monday)
Liar, filmed in Deal, will air on ITV today (Monday)

In the first episode, Laura Nielson (Froggatt) who is recently out of a relationship, is set up with Andrew Earlham (Gruffudd), a handsome widowed surgeon and father of one of her students. The two enjoy a first date, but the next day, rumours and accusations begin to circulate and the two find themselves entangled in a web of deceit and confusion.

Creators of the show, Harry and Jack Williams, said: “After writing two series of The Missing, which was told across multiple timelines with a number of different points of view, we were excited about exploring something with more dramatic simplicity - a linear story focusing on one single incident.

“In Liar we sought to explore modern day gender politics through a narrative built upon two fundamentally conflicting recollections of one night, in a way which we hope will challenge and surprise audiences.

“Both Joanne Froggatt and Ioan Gruffudd deliver nuanced, committed performances in an emotional thriller that we hope twists, surprises and moves people in its journey towards the truth.”

The crew in Wellington Parade, Kingsdown
The crew in Wellington Parade, Kingsdown

The team first came to the area in November, filming at Shaun and Helen Roper’s home in Wellington Parade, Kingsdown, and at another house in The Marina, Deal.

Mrs Roper said the family will be holding a viewing party with family and friends, complete with ice cream and popcorn.

She said: “We’re really looking forward to seeing it. It will be fun to know we were a part of it.”

The makers of the show emptied and redecorated the Roper’s family home before returning it to how they found it.

Considering the impact of Broadchurch on West Bay in Dorset, where it was filmed, Mrs Roper hopes Liar will bring Deal into the spotlight. She said: “Hopefully this will help Deal.

“I think it definitely benefited Deal when they were here as so many people were interested.”

Scenes were also shot on The Pier, in Jasin’s Restaurant and at Deal Beach Parlour. Their costumes, make-up and canteen base was at Walmer Castle gravel car park.

Joanne Froggatt said: “Laura is a very challenging character to play, which was one of the reasons I was interested in playing her. Obviously, Jack and Harry’s writing is amazing so when I started reading the script I was very drawn into it. I thought this is something I would watch and it’s definitely something that if I started watching, I would not turn off.”

When asked why people should watch Liar, Ioan Gruffudd said: “I think people should watch if they are at all interested in gripping, fantastic storytelling, its edge of your seat stuff from the first ten minutes on. We present the story in a Greek tragedy kind of way. We tell you the story, and then explain the consequences. It keeps you guessing throughout the series.”

He continued: “When I picked up the script I couldn’t believe what I was reading, it was one of the best scripts I have read in a long, long time.

“There has only been three times in my career where I’ve read something and have thought “I have to play this part” and this was one of them. So, I think the audience will feel just as excited as I was when I first read the first script.”

Liar will air on ITV at 9pm tonight (Monday, September 11).

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