Frauds filming locations brought 'sunshine noir feel' to ITV crime series
Frauds on ITV took its cast and crew to Europe earlier in the year
Frauds is a “darkly funny” slice of escapism where Suranne Jones and Jodie Whittaker’s thieves roam a spaghetti western world – so where are the real filming locations?
Released from La Cienaga Prison after 10 years, cancer-stricken Bert has just months to live and so her former accomplice Sam agrees to become her carer at home in the hills.
Of course, Bert’s dying wish is to go out in a blaze of glory with one last job. The intended target? They want to steal Salvador Dali’s The Great Masturbator painting from Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía in Madrid.
And that’s your first clue about the key filming locations in Frauds. Here’s what we know, and what the cast and crew have said about them…
Where was Frauds filmed?
It’s no secret that ITV’s Frauds unfolds in the south of Spain.
Yet production took place almost entirely towards the tip of Tenerife. That’s the biggest of the Canary Islands.
Tenerife is off West Africa, and known for its dusty heat and desert landscapes. It’s dominated by Mt. Teide, a dormant volcano that is Spain’s tallest peak.
The island has tonnes of beaches – with sands varying from yellow to black. Of course, it’s also know for its tourism.
Frauds filming locations scratch away Spain’s touristy sheen
Speaking ahead of Frauds’ start date, co-creator Anne-Marie O’Connor reflected on how a personal connection to Spain provided her with a unique insight to draw upon while developing the show.
“I’ve spent quite a bit of time in southern Spain. My brother used to live there,” she said. “I love the sort of spaghetti western feel you get down there.
“There’s a real otherness to it, a dry heat and that kind of outlaw feel you get in places like Las Vegas. Even in famous places like Marbella where you turn up and everything’s catered for, you just need to scratch the surface and it can be lawless.
“It’s a part of the world that we think we know as British people… But we also don’t know it.”
‘Dangerous things’ can happen
Much like Australian Outback thriller The Tourist, Frauds goes for what executive producer Katie Kelly calls “that sunshine noir feel”. It brings a gritty visual dimension to a familiar destination.
“You can have this glistening idea of what that area looks like and then you’ve got an underbelly that you can kind of play with.
“It gives you a lot of scope for interesting characters and dangerous things to happen,” teased Kelly.
Shooting in Tenerife offered the production team everything they’d need all in one place.
This included a “sort of Costa del Sol beachside strip” populated by magician’s shows and drag queen clubs, but also “an old Spanish town or lush mountains”.
“You’ve got these desert landscapes which are vast and feel epic and dry and bring a really interesting flavour and tone,” added the exec.
A priest stares at the crown of thorns displayed at the Church of Our Lady of Conception [Credit: ITV]
Frauds filming locations include Spanish landmarks
Across the six instalments of ITV’s latest crime drama, a great swathe of Spanish landmarks are seen on screen.
There’s an early sequence where Bert grifts a priceless, glass-encased matador costume from the Santa Cruz Bullring.
Originally opening its doors in 1893, the venue hosted its last bullfight in 1983. Eleven years ago, it was recognised by the government as a building of cultural heritage.
We also have the gothic Church of Our Lady of Conception in the town of La Orotava on full display. While a funeral congregation’s attention is diverted, Bert swipes a load of jewellery and the church’s golden crown of thorns.
The Reina Sofía gallery was a Frauds filming location too, where our anti-heroes plan to rob The Great Masturbator. That particular piece of artwork is situated next to Pablo Picasso’s monochrome classic Guernica.
Frauds cast member Jodie Whittaker loved filming in Tenerife
“It was amazing, but it rained a lot,” revealed Jodie, ignoring the fact Frauds shot in the dead of winter.
Yet by living in San Cristóbal de La Laguna for months on end, the actress discovered a new destination to add to her “top five”.
She said: “I’ve been to the south [of Spain] as a kid on family holidays and never really realised how much we’re missing out by not heading up north.”
Appearing on BBC Radio 6’s Breakfast Show, the 43-year-old recalled how this particular jaunt challenged everything she knew about the place.
“My idea of Tenerife was from holidays in all-inclusives with a wristband getting chocolate milkshake every 10 minutes because you could!” Jodie laughed.
“In Tenerife, there’s a town called San Cristóbal de La Laguna. It has three record shops! I was absolutely obsessed, I couldn’t believe it.
“It’s such a gift getting to film in locations you wouldn’t necessarily go – even as a tourist I don’t think we’d have seen the places we saw.”
San Cristóbal de La Laguna is the second-most populous city in Tenerife. It was declared a World Heritage Site in 1999.
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