Suffolk stately home has starring role

VIEWERS tuning into a top BBC drama tomorrow night will be surprised to find that one of the starring roles goes to a beautiful Suffolk stately home.

Somerleyton Hall, near Lowestoft, was chosen to represent Sandringham House by the makers of The Lost Prince, which details the little-known story of Edwardian royal Prince John, the youngest child of George V and Queen Mary.

Written and directed by award winner Stephen Poliakoff and starring Miranda Richardson and Michael Gambon, the programme spans the Prince's short life – a momentous period in history covering the build up to the First World War.

A cast and crew of over 100 people spent last July filming in Suffolk and the programme includes many shots of the house and its gorgeous 12 acre gardens.

"We were delighted to have Talkback Productions filming at Somerleyton Hall," said Lord Somerleyton. "It was a very positive experience for us and something that we would like to do more of."

Somerleyton Hall stands on the site of an earlier Jacobean manor house, but it was redeveloped into early Victorian style by Sir Morton Peto, a self-made entrepreneur.

He carried out the transformation of the extravagant mansion between 1844 and 1851. It boasts such features as a Victorian campanile tower, from which you can see the sea and St. Margaret's Church, Lowestoft, as well as a clock designed by Vulliamy, the famous clock-making family, which dominates the courtyard.

Those who like what they see on the programme will be able to visit Somerleyton Hall themselves when the stately home opens its doors to the public on April 13.

More information is available at www.somerleyton.co.uk

The Lost Prince is broadcast on BBC One tomorrow night at 8.30pm.

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