Sky Atlantic Sweetpea: Southend filmed scenes aired

Sweetpea aired on Sky Atlantic yesterday, after camera crews filmed a series of scenes in Southend last winter.

The new show is an eight-episode drama, described as “American Psycho meets Fleabag”.

Season 1 is already available to binge for Sky and NOW customers, with episodes being released on the streaming platform on Thursday.

Pixipixel - filming equipment vans (Image: Newsquest)

A series of scenes were filmed at Pier Hill Observation Tower, Western Esplanade’s Cliff Lift and theme park Adventure Island across two days in November.

One extra for the show told the Echo at the time: “Sweetpea is going to be a really good watch when it comes out.

“It’s based on the 2017 novel by C J Skuse, which is a funny and outrageous darkly thriller.

“The cast and crew have been amazing, and it’s a pleasure being able to be a part of it.

“I’m looking forward to its release next year.”

Multiple huge Pixipixel vans, which is a London-based camera and lighting rental house, carrying all the equipment for the production, also lined the seafront. 

Filming - crew on the Pier Hill Observation Tower (Image: Vecteo)

Adapted for the screen by Kirstie Swain from CJ Skuse’s novel of the same name, Sweetpea follows a bored young woman who chooses to wield her power with malice in a dark comedy drama.

Rhiannon Lewis - played by Ella Purnell who stars in hit shows Fallous and Yellowjackets - wishes she was the hero of her own story but fate is determined to deal her one losing hand after another.

Her boyfriend refuses to marry her, she is passed over for promotion at work and people in the street don’t give her a single glance.

Then Rhiannon disturbingly realises the ability to blend into the background is a superpower: a girl who everyone ignores can get away with murder.