Bradford on Avon and its surrounding areas are featured in the BBC drama Wolf Hall next week as its locations for historical backdrops were used for filming in June last year.

The six-part series charts the rise of Thomas Cromwell who became King Henry VIII’s chief minister, as he navigated the corridors of power in the Tudor court.

Film crews took over the Tithe Barn in the town as well as National Trust-owned Great Chalfield Manor in Holt to shoot scenes featuring Olivier award-winning stage actor Mark Rylance, who plays Cromwell.

He stars opposite Emmy and Golden Globe winner Damian Lewis, who plays Henry VIII in the adaptation of Hilary Mantel’s Booker Prize-winning novels.

Robert Floyd, tenant of Great Chalfield Manor near Holt, was over the moon to help film crews again after the grounds had previously been featured in The Other Boleyn Girl and Tess d’Urbervilles.

He said: “This was the first location where the entire cast were filming together and it went really well, guided by the brilliant director, Peter Kosminsky.

"It was the second time that Mark Rylance had been to Great Chalfield Manor because he filmed here a few years ago for The Other Boleyn Girl and so he knew the place and was rather happy to be back.”

Mr Floyd added: “We have been lucky enough to have quite a lot of filming here in the last 20 years and we enjoy seeing it on the screen when the programme or film is finished. We are all very much looking forward to watching it next week and we expect we will get a few more visitors when we open in April.”

Bradford on Avon Mayor John Potter said he will be switching on to see the town on TV when the programme starts on BBC2 at 9pm on January 21.