The Park on TV
Cassiobury Park has appeared in a number of TV programs and films helped by its location close to several major film studios. В Some documented cases are below. В If you are aware of any more please let me know!
Star Wars
Sections of Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace, released in 1999, were filmed in Whippendell Woods. The woods doubled as a forest on the planet Naboo whose inhabitants, the Gungans, live in underwater cities.
The woods were chosen as a location due to their close proximity to Leavesden Film Studios where some of the interior sections of the movie were created using green screens.
As there is no lake in the woods this was digitally added replacing a small clearing in the woods after filming had been completed.
The website StarWarsLocations.com has a collection of images (similar to the above) comparing the woods on-screen with the locations as they exist today. The best is probably an uploaded archive of Mike Rush’s visit to the woods, however there has also been a more recent visit.
Chuckle Brothers
Two episodes of the CBBC show ChuckleVision featuring Chuckle Brothers Paul and Barry have been filmed in the park. In a series 20 episode the brothers attempt to sell ice-creams in the park competing with the resident ice-cream man, an earlier episode features the slapstick duo pushing their grannies in wheelchairs through the park.
Some photos of filming taking place in summer 2008 can be found online together with a video of the episode.
Others
In 2008 the 3-part ITV drama The Children was filmed in Watford and St Albans with several scenes set within the park.
Details of how to obtain permission to film in the park, including rates, can be found here.
3 Responses
AWESOME! I thought that was where the Chuckle Brothers used as scenery!
About 30 years ago there was a section of Yellow Brick road.
In the middle of the woods I have not found it recently.
Could it have been something to do with a re-make of the Wizard of Oz ??
A CBeebies show called Melody has filmed a few episodes in Cassiobury. Mainly the large play area near the Splash Park.
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