LIGHTS, cameras and action came to a Victorian terrace in Whitefield this week when film crews arrived to shoot a TV drama.

Dramatic scenes were filmed at the house in Hamilton Road, featuring Grimleys actress Amanda Holden and Eastenders star Joe Absolom, for the Sky TV thriller Now You See Her.

The proud homeowner, Howard Wilson, saw production crews arrive at his house late on Wednesday (Feb 14) afternoon, along with with van loads of camera, lighting and special effects equipment.

Later, floodlights illuminated the night sky, with scaffolding erected for scenes in which a character jumps from an upstairs window. The entire road was blocked off for the scenes.

Howard's spacious home, with ample scope for sweeping camera shots, was chosen for its natural ambience. Howard (52) said: "They knocked on the door one day, looking for properties for filming, I think they were looking for the type of house that fitted in with one of the characters, who is a museum curator."

"When they're filming it's chaos. There must be 25 people in the house but it's organised chaos, they're very professional."

Crew from the Red Production Company filmed daylight shots in and around the house a week ago and had returned to burn the midnight oil, filming until 4am for two successive nights.

For Howard, his wife Janice and 21-year-old son Andrew that has meant spending two nights in a hotel, paid for by the company. The crew redecorated his kitchen and moved props into the morning room, lounge and bedroom being used for the shots.

But despite the upheaval, Howard has thoroughly enjoyed welcoming the cameras into his home: "Its been interesting, you don't realise how much goes into making a film. There are 30 or 40 support staff for three or four actors," he said.

"Amanda was very nice, and very friendly. When they filmed in the street all the kids were watching and she went to say hello to them."

And of course, there will be compensation for the inconvenience.

"Obviously you don't go through this upheaval for nothing, and anything they damage they put right. I've nothing but praise for them," said Howard.

The drama, in which Amanda plays a con artist with Joe, better known as Matthew in Eastenders, as her sidekick, will be shown in September on Sky One.