Many home owners dream of having their housesused as a TV location. But what's it really like to have your peaceful home used by a production company, and is it really worth it? Gina-Lorraine Murray found out, when she invited Martin Clunes and an entire crew into her farm for new ITV drama, Out There.
Darrow Farm needed some tender loving care, and so Gina, 55, was looking for ways to get it fixed up and make money at the same time. Offering it it as a TV location ticked both boxes, and Martin Clunes made himself very much at home - even repainting the whole house.
The beautiful pink farmhouse in Carmarthenshire was painted dark grey for the filming, and then painstakingly restored to its original, looking even better than before.
Not only that, but the filming fees paid by the TV company covered some much-needed repair work to the house, including a collapsed bathroom ceiling.
Gina-Lorraine Murray's house went from pink to grey for the filming, and then back again (Image: Gina-Lorraine Murray) "We’ve been at Darrow Farm for years - it’s been in the family a long time," says Gina."The house itself is 500 years old and has seen better days.It’sa working farm, so it’s always busy.
"To be honest, the house was getting a bit run down, and I thought, ‘What else can we do with it?’ I’d always liked the idea of putting it forward for TV work but had no idea where to start. I kept mentioning it to clients who came over, and one day, someone said, ‘You need to call Wales Screen.’
Wales Screen, also known as Sgrîn Cymru, isa part of Creative Wales that provides support for filming in Wales
How can you get your home used as a TV location?
Creative Wales is a Welsh Government economic development agency that supports the creative industries in Wales. Itconnects homeowners with filmmakers, making it easy for scouts to find the perfect location based on unique criteria. You can register to be part of the database here.
They are looking for all different kinds of homes to use as locations, as Gina discovered.
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"It started with them just wanting to use the barn, but after they visited, they decided to use more of the property," she says. "Before I knew it, Martin Clunes’ wife, Philippa, turned up with a big group of people to look around."
The house looks quite different on screen - and now it looks better than ever.
(Image: Gina-Lorraine Murray)
"Our pink house got turned grey for the filming, but they repainted it pink afterwards," says Gina. "Honestly, I didn’t mind - it needed the work anyway, so a refresh was welcome. They even built stables in one of the barns. It was quite exciting to see the house get a bit of a makeover. And the crew was brilliant - they left everything spotless when they were done. It was like they were never here. I couldn’t believe it.
"It was so much fun, and I’d love to have them back.
"We stayed right here. They didn’t ask us to leave, so I just kept to the quieter parts of the house while they were filming. The cats were locked in one room, and the dogs went to my mum’s. It worked out fine.
#OutThere review: Martin Clunes's twisty thriller has a lot on its mind, writes @jamesmhibbs ✍️ https://t.co/crSTyY1qsZ pic.twitter.com/EHjsgRcDzV
— Radio Times (@RadioTimes) January 19, 2025
"Martin Clunes was lovely, and he and my husband got on really well. I even got to visit the studio where they’d replicated our hallway. It was uncanny - like walking into our house but in a completely different place.
"I had to ask my husband, ‘Is that really our house, or is it the studio?’ They even replicated our hallway down to the wobbly beams and the old wallpaper (in the studio), you can’t even get that wallpaper anymore. It’s amazing what they do."
How much do TV companies pay to use your house as a TV location?
Although she hasn't revealed how much the TV company paid, Gina saysit certainly helped with the restoration of the house.
"I’m not going to say exactly how much, but it was enough to fix our bathroom ceiling after it collapsed. So, it was definitely worth it - especially for farmers.
"It’s a great way to bring in some extra money, and we met some lovely people along the way. You just have to be flexible and go with the flow."
