Virdee, a riveting crime thriller produced by the BBC, is set against the striking backdrop of Bradford—a city that is steeped in history and culture. Show introduces Detective Harry Virdee, a man who is torn between his duties as a police officer and his personal problems—such as his family’s opposition to his marriage to a woman of a different religion. As gang wars get worse and a killer causes ‘mayhem’. Harry is forced to work with his powerful drug lord brother-in-law. Harry has to decide whether to save his family or his city now that the stakes are higher than ever. But where did this huge drama come to life? Let’s take a look at where Virdee was filmed and how Bradford became an important part of the show.
WHERE WAS VIRDEE FILMED? BRADFORD: THE HEART OF VIRDEE
Most of the filming for Virdee happened in Bradford, which is where author and executive producer AA Dhand grew up. The city’s varied landscape, which includes both old ruins and new buildings—made it a great place to show the contrast between old and new Bradford, which is a major theme of the series.
“Bradford is a really beautiful city,” Dhand said, wanting to show off all that Bradford had to offer. We visit City Park, which has the largest public water fountains in England. In the series, this is shown next to the scary ruins and mills that haven’t been used in decades.
City Park, a lively area with beautiful fountains and modern architecture, is one of the most well-known places in the show. This place shows the bright and modern side of Bradford, which is very different from the abandoned mills and industrial ruins shown in other parts of the show.
Spencer Road, Khidmat Community Center
The Khidmat Community Center on Spencer Road and some shops nearby were used for a big part of the filming. The area was changed to reflect the history of the city and was used to film important scenes—such as ones about the real-life Bradford riots.
The excitement in the community was shared by Sofia Buncy MBE—the national coordinator at the Khidmat Center: “They certainly brought excitement and “Hollywood” glamour to the neighborhood.” She also said that the people who lived there got to see firsthand how complicated film production is, from dealing with modern things like car number plates in scenes set in the past to dealing with everyday interruptions while filming.
Home of Cartwright Hall and Lister Park
The grand art gallery Cartwright Hall in Lister Park was another important place. These spots showed a mix of historic and beautiful places, which fit with the series’ main idea that Bradford has changed over time.
Sunbridge Wells Tunnels Below Ground
The underground tunnels in Bradford called Sunbridge Wells were very important to the filming. The show felt darker and more mysterious because of these tunnels, which made some scenes more tense.
City Hall in Bradford
Bradford City Hall, which has beautiful architecture, was used as a background for many police station scenes. The historic building gave the show more realism and helped to ground it in the real world.
ON SET IN BRADFORD, THE CAST AND CREW
Staz Nair (Harry Virdee)
The lead actor, Staz Nair, who plays Harry Virdee, had a great time filming in Bradford. He remembered a touching moment from one of his first scenes: a local person served the cast and crew chai while they were filming in an alley.
Nair said, “Bradford was so welcoming and everyone was so excited to be part of it.” “That really inspired us all to continually put everything into it.”
Aysha Kala (Saima Virdee)
Saima is played by Aysha Kala, and she too felt the city’s warm embrace. She said, “When we did scenes in Bradford City Park, lots of people kept coming up to us, watching what we were filming, and asking when it would air. Bradford is the biggest part of the show, so I really hope we’ve done it justice!”
Kala also talked about how much she loved filming at Saima’s dad’s house, where the real owners made tea for the whole crew. “It genuinely didn’t feel like I was working. It was lovely.”
Danyal Ismail (DS Amin)
For Danyal Ismail, a native of Bradford who plays DS Amin, filming in his hometown was a dream come true.
“I’ve always wanted the show to do good by Bradford,” he said. “Simply seeing the show and the city inside will likely enlighten most people to a place they only know by reputation.”
He emphasized the city’s unique blend of old and new: “Modern new builds and fancy cars shadowed by 18th-century textile mills, or quaint cobbled streets a stone’s throw from vast moorland. All within the same district. It truly makes me proud to see the city on screen.”
THE DREAM OF AA DHAND
The person who made Virdee, AA Dhand, has long pushed for media to show Bradford. He made sure that the series not only showed how the city looked but also included people who lived there.
“It was very important that local people worked on the production” he said. “The filming locations show how different old and new Bradford are from each other.”
“About 200 years ago, Bradford was one of the most powerful and wealthy cities in Europe—we made the curtains that were in the White House!” Dhand wanted to bring attention to the city’s history. In those mills, you can see how that industry is dying out, but you can also see the new Bradford with City Park and how lively that is.
IT’S A CITY OF CULTURE
As of 2025, Bradford will be the UK City of Culture. Virdee is a fitting tribute to the city’s rich history. The series does a great job of showing how the city has changed over time, including both its problems and its successes.
Dhand said it best: “I was trying to pick locations that fit with the story and had an emotional background that could match what was happening on screen.” We’d be in a mill if something bad was going on. We’d be in City Park or Lister Park if there was something lovely and bright going on.
Virdee isn’t just a crime story; it’s also a love letter to Bradford. The show paints a vivid picture of a city with a deep past and a bright future through its stunning cinematography and carefully chosen settings. People will be able to see the heart of Bradford as Detective Harry Virdee fights crime and his own demons. The city itself is as much a character in the show as the people who live there.
Come back to spikytv.com soon for more Virdee news, sneak peeks and recaps.
