Where is Annika filmed? Location guide for Nicola Walker's detective drama
The police procedural was shot in various locations, including the West Coast seaside village of Largs.
Alibi detective drama Annika made waves when it first arrived on our screens in 2021, and now more viewers will get to see it as it airs on BBC One.
The series is led by Unforgotten's Nicola Walker, and when it first aired it surprising viewers with its light-hearted feel and frequent fourth-wall breaking.
In the series premiere, viewers met not only Walker's titular police detective Annika Strandhed, but also glimpsed the beautiful Scottish coastline that's invariably behind her in each shot.
That's because Annika heads up a Marine Homicide Unit based in Scotland, where she and her team help investigate and solve waterway and sea-based murders.
In addition to Walker, the cast also includes Jamie Sives (Guilt), Katie Leung (The Nest) and Ukweli Roach (Blindspot), while Doctor Who's Paul McGann plays Annika's love interest and her daughter's therapist.
But where was the show's stunning scenery filmed? Read on for everything you need to know about where detective drama Annika was shot.
Where is Annika filmed?
The popular Radio 4 programme on which the TV series is based was set is Oslo, but the show has relocated the story to the Glasgow area in Scotland.
The titular detective, played by Nicola Walker (who also voiced the radio version of the character), is introduced to the viewer as the new head of a specialist Marine Homicide Unit somewhere in Scotland (it's left unspecified, at least in episode one).
The Scottish coastline – the series was shot in various locations, including the West Coast seaside village of Largs – is a character in itself in Annika, providing our heroine with a stunning (albeit sometimes rainy) backdrop to her murder investigations.
In episode one, the central theme of the sea (and potential 'monsters' lurking both above and below the waterline) is made clear when we're introduced to our first murder victim: a boat business owner, killed by means of a harpoon to the head, and whom Annika compares to Moby Dick ("Everyone goes mad and no one even knows if the whale dies or not. One thing I do know? This great white whale definitely did.")
Filming locations in and around Glasgow (a port city in the west of Scotland) included River Clyde, and Bridge Street; and further out in southern Scotland, Loch Lomond.
The official Twitter page for Loch Lomond Shores previously announced the beauty spot's inclusion in the series, revealing that filming took place in 2021.
By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Annika will air on BBC One on Saturday 20th May 2023 at 9:15pm. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to see what's on tonight.
Try Radio Times magazine today and get 12 issues for only £1 with delivery to your home – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Authors
James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
