Unknown to nearly everyone in Coventry, a quiet corner of the city was recently graced with a little bit of Hollywood sunshine. British film and TV stars Matthew Macfadyen and Keeley Hawes have been filming new ITV series Stonehouse at Coventry College’s disused Henley Campus.

The show, written by John Preston, is about John Stonehouse, a former spy and politician who attempted to fake his own death in 1974. It will feature Macfadyen, star of hugely popular American TV show Succession, as the title character and former Line of Duty star Hawes, as Barbara – Stonehouse’s wife.

Macfadyen and Hawes, who are husband and wife in real life too, spent much of February and March filming scenes in Henley Green at the site of the former college, which closed for good back in July. There is currently a planning application to build more than a hundred houses at the site once the building is demolished, but a decision has been pending since way back in November – something the council says is fairly common due to the size of the plans.

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But after speaking with local residents, CoventryLive has learned the campus, which is still owned by Coventry College, was recently used for shooting a TV series. Production bosses sent letters earlier in the year about plans to use the campus for filming.

One resident said: “We got letters telling us it was happening. There were great big lorries coming up and down the road to the car park for weeks. The letter said the film was about John Stonehouse, the politician who faked his own death.”

We approached ITV and production company Snowed-In Productions who both confirmed the college was used for filming Stonehouse. It is understood the building was used for it’s variety of different types of scenes it could cater for.

Addressing the role, Matthew Macfadyen said: “What happened to John Stonehouse is the stuff of legend. I’ve always been intrigued by what motivated him to fake his own death, and leave behind the family he loved and doted upon and a promising political career. John Preston’s script truly captures the man and his colourful life and I’m looking forward to taking on his character.”