Queen Camilla mingles with ITV stars and reveals she's a hidden fan of hit crime show
Queen Camilla attended a reception to meet a whole host of ITV stars including Lorraine Kelly, Susanna Reid and Brenda Blethyn to mark the network's 70th anniversary - and also watched hit drama Trigger Point starring Vicky McClure being filmed
The Queen took charge of the clapperboard on the set of ITV's Trigger Point as she watched a scene being filmed on location in central London. Her Majesty revealed that she was a fan of the show, having watched part of the first series.
She put on headphones to watch a scene being filmed live and appeared fascinated by the way the show is put together, with special effects and "bangs" added later. The Queen also expressed surprise at the 30lb weight of the bomb disposal suit worn by actress Vicky McClure, who stars in the crime drama as explosives officer Lana Washington.
Later, the Queen attended a reception celebrating the 70th anniversary of ITV, chatting to a host of stars from Lorraine Kelly and Mary Nightingale to Ellie Simmonds and Brenda Blethyn. After cutting a cake, the Queen declared herself the network’s "greatest fan".
She said: "I’d like to say a very very happy 70th birthday to all of you. I’m a bit older and I do remember ITV starting on those very old televisions in those days…. I do remember the excitement of suddenly having another channel. To watch how you’ve gone from there, how much you’ve appealed to the nation is absolutely brilliant."
The Queen was met on arrival at Brent Cross Civic Centre by Dame Carolyn McCall, ITV's chief executive, and Jed Mercurio, executive producer of Trigger Point. She was introduced to various people who work on the show, including actors Nabil Elouahabi, who plays Hassan Rahim, and McClure, who was in costume ready to film a scene.
"Lovely to meet you," the Queen told McClure. "You're nice and warm in your explosives officer kit. Have you enjoyed doing it?" McClure asked the Queen if she liked the series, to which she replied: "I have watched it.. I’m just getting through the first (series) so I’ve got a bit more.. But no, I think it’s really good." Told they were filming the third series, she said: "Third! Very popular."
Military advisor Paul Biddiss showed Camilla some of the props they use, including the bomb suit worn by McClure. "This is the lighter one," he said, adding that one of them was 70lb. "Lighter?" the Queen replied. "Blimey!" McClure said they were difficult to walk in and she felt "a bit like Mr Soft" when she was wearing the heavier ones. "Like a robot," the Queen joked.
McClure said: "They are comfortable when you’re not moving. When I lie on the floor it’s quite nice." The Queen asked: "What happens when you get up?" "I struggle," the actress laughed. Camilla said she would "watch that with interest." She told McClure: "At least you get a sense of what these heroes do."
Gesturing to Mr Biddiss, who was in the Parachute Regiment, she added: "Because they are the real heroes. They do an incredible job." The Queen then took a seat in a production tent and was given some headphones to watch a scene as it was filmed live.
Mercurio told her that special effects depicting a balcony being blown up would be added afterwards: "You’ll have to use your imagination ma'am," he said. "So you’re not going to have the actual explosion?" the Queen asked. "If we do, it’s nothing to do with us," he joked.
She watched the screen as McClure was filmed arriving on the scene in a van before sprinting towards a building. When a member of the production crew shouted “bang!” McClure dropped to the ground. “I was all ready for the bang,” the Queen told VFX supervisor Mark Robinson. "She’s (McClure) not only got that appallingly heavy suit on, she’s got a backpack as well."
The Queen was told that other parts of the scene would be filmed next week in Osterley. "It’s so clever," she said. "Like a sort of jigsaw puzzle." Mercurio then showed Camilla how to use a clapperboard to mark the start of a new scene, telling her to point it at the camera and be careful not to get her fingers trapped. The Queen then did the honours, taking the board and saying: "Trigger Point take one."