It’s the first time the building has been used as a feature film set
The Supreme Court has revealed that scenes from the much-anticipated Bridget Jones’s Baby film have been shot in its main courtroom.
As fans of the franchise may know, Bridget Jones’ on-off lover Mark Darcy (played by Colin Firth) is a human rights lawyer, so to accommodate his lawyering scenes the Supreme Court agreed to let filmmakers use its main courtroom as their set.
Firth — whose character is reportedly modelled on actual barrister Mark Muller QC of Doughty Street Chambers — and crew filmed in the court for just one weekend, so as to not get in the way of all the important law stuff.
This is the first time the highest court in the country has opened its doors to a feature film crew, and is all part of a wider programme of generating income to ease pressure on the public purse.
Can we expect cameos from Lady Hale and co?
Unfortunately not. Though the Supreme Court justices were consulted on the approach, the film’s producers brought in actors to fill the bench.
A Supreme Court spokesperson has commented:
We were pleased to have the chance to open up the building to a new audience through the cinema screen. We wouldn’t want to spoil the plot for those planning to see the film, so can’t comment further on the proceedings. All I’ll say is that those riled by depictions of judges using gavels in British courtrooms can feel relaxed.
Other legal hotspots which feature in the new Bridget Jones film — based on the chick lit series by British writer Helen Fielding — include the Old Bailey and Middle Temple.