Parking banned on a Birmingham city centre street as film crews shoot a thrilling 1980s drama

Birmingham has been the filming location for several famous shows and films in recent years.

The city has welcomed Cillian Murphy starring in Peaky Blinders; Tom Cruise filming Mission Impossible in Grand Central; along with Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Richard Madden starring in si-fi drama Citadel. Then of course we had Hollywood director Steven Spielberg filming parts of Ready Player One in Digbeth and the Jewellery Quarter; and the BBC’s Man Like Mobeen also has scenes shot in Birmingham.

Now camera crews are out in the city centre once more - with parking suspended on Bennetts Hill from tomorrow (August 1) to Thursday (August 3) inclusive - for more filming. A notice warning drivers to avoid waiting and loading on the road, where you’ll find the Indian Streatery and Bodega, has been erected by Birmingham City Council.

Film Birmingham has confirmed that the shoot is for the new ITVX drama Joan starring Sophie Turner. West Midlands born Sophie is taking the lead role in the drama about 1980s jewel thief Joan Hannington - renowned for stealing diamonds in London.

Sophie was previoulsy first seen in filming Joan in the Jewellery Quarter in May, and then later in Coventry city centre in June. She has also been spotted out and about in Birmingham enjoying several of the city’s top hospitality venues including games arcade NQ64 and AutoBrew, both in the Custard Factory in Digbeth, where she visited with her husband Joe Jonas of American pop band Jonas Brothers.

The filming of Joan began in May 2023. It is a six-part drama from ITVX and Snowed-in Productions. The series will be produced with The CW Network, USA in association with All3Media International. It is being directed by BAFTA award-winning Richard Laxton who has directed Rain Dogs, The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe, Mrs Wilson. With the 80s renowned for its bold fashion trends, icnoic music and cultural shifts - you may want to look out for some eye-catching costumes if you’re around the city centre.