TV viewers may have found themselves doing double takes this evening while watching the new BBC true-life drama Kidnapped: The Chloe Ayling Story.

The first episode of the BBC 3 series aired at 9pm on TV - will all episodes on BBC iPlayer now - telling the story of Chloe Ayling, the British glamour model who was abducted in 2017 after arriving at an address in Milan, Italy, for a modelling job.

The six part series follows her abduction and time in captivity, as well as the subsequent court case that put her kidnappers in jail.

Ms Ayling travelled to Milan in 2017 for a modelling photoshoot, when she was kidnapped by Lukasz Herba and held for six days in a remote farmhouse.

The series follows her terrifying kidnap, her bravery and resilience in captivity, and the subsequent court case that put her kidnappers in jail. Yet despite their convictions, Chloe faced headlines accusing her of faking her own kidnapping, and found herself at the centre of a media storm.

Scenes were shot in Bolton and Italy.

Filming in Selkirk Road, Astley Bridge

Filming for the series started in 2023, with film crews moving on to The Oldhams Estate, Astley Bridge, Bolton for around a week, before moving onto Le Mans Crescent in the town centre.

The trial was filmed in the old Bolton Magistrates building

Production crews set up in Selkirk Road, with a key shot filmed in a front garden.

Trial filming took place in Bolton's old magistrate courtTrial filming took place in Bolton's old magistrate court (Image: James Stack)

 

A number of hit dramas have been filmed in Bolton earning the town the name Hollywood of the North.

Crews from Netflix, BBC and ITV among others spent 88 days filming in the town in 2023.

Other dramas filmed in the North West include The Reckoning, Gentleman in Moscow, Ridley and Alma’s Not Normal.

Picture by Danny Crompton when Peaky Blinders were filming in BoltonPicture by Danny Crompton when Peaky Blinders were filming in Bolton

Fool Me Once, a Netflix mystery drama series starring Michelle Keegan and Joanna Lumley which premièred in January, also has scenes shot across the North West . Acclaimed BBC drama Happy Valley, starring Sarah Lancashire, shot several segments in the town centre including an escape from court scene.