‘The teacher’ shocks: filming location far from uk school

Victoria Hamilton’s performance in the latest installment of Channel 5’s gripping series, ‘The Teacher,’ has audiences on the edge of their seats—but the show's surprising filming location is generating just as much buzz. The four-part drama, depicting the volatile relationship between a teacher and student, isn't quite what it seems.

A basque surprise: where was ‘the teacher’ really shot?

While the exterior shots of Cheetham Hall, the supposedly quintessential British school, were captured at a hotel in Hertfordshire, the bulk of the series’ interior scenes were filmed much further afield. Prepare to be surprised: the classrooms and corridors of ‘The Teacher’ were actually brought to life in Vitoria-Gasteiz, the capital of Spain’s Basque Country.

Steve Edge, who portrays Helen’s husband, described the location as “a very Spanish place with very few tourists,” a sentiment echoed by Rochenda Sandall, who plays Tessa Stewart. Sandall revealed that the cast spent two months immersed in the Basque landscape, a region celebrated for its rugged beauty. The school itself, she explained with a wry smile, “didn’t really look anything like my school!”—it was, in fact, “an old church that was recommissioned and converted into an art college.”

The choice of Vitoria-Gasteiz adds a layer of intrigue to the already complex narrative. The production team, clearly, wasn't aiming for a literal portrayal of a British school. Instead, the backdrop of a charming, historically rich European city—far removed from the familiar grey skies of the UK—may be deliberately intended to heighten the sense of isolation and unease that permeates the series. The contrast between the serene Basque landscape and the intense drama unfolding within the school walls is, in itself, a compelling visual element.

The Basque Country, with its unique culture and stunning scenery, offered more than just an unusual filming location. Sandall noted, “We were out there for two months…so all of the Basque Country was available to us, it was amazing.” The freedom to explore and draw inspiration from the surrounding environment likely enriched the performances and added depth to the series’ overall atmosphere.

‘The Teacher’ is now airing on Channel 5 and is available to stream on My5.