Channel 5 cosy crime drama The Madame Blanc Mysteries films on location in Gozo, Malta, for three months each year since its 2021 debut, doubling the Mediterranean island for a fictional French town named Sainte Victoire.
The Gozo Filming Footprint
- Cast and crew relocate to Gozo annually for a three-month production block to shoot the series.
- Fans known as “Blanc-heads” travel globally to visit the real-life sets in villages including Sannat and Għarb.
- Filming encounters local interruptions such as church bells from the island’s 500-plus churches and calls to the local police station.
The transition from France to Malta happened during early production on the series. Co-creators and writers Sally Lindsay and Sue Vincent scouted Gozo after real-world French locations proved unworkable, settling on the Maltese sister-island because its limestone squares and baroque architecture matched their vision for Sainte Victoire.
Fans flock to the village square in Għarb to view the Basilica of the Visitation and La Couronne, the fictional pub run by characters Judith and Jeremy Lloyd James, played by Sue Holderness and Robin Askwith. The exterior of the local gendarmerie is actually a private residence, while interior station scenes use a working Gozo police station.
Production face unique local hurdles during shoots. Alex Gaumond, who plays Police Chief André Caron, noted that real police phone calls occasionally interrupt takes, though low crime rates on the island keep disruptions minimal. The island’s more than 500 church bells also prompt frequent pauses in filming schedules.
Series five production brings fresh narrative arcs, including the murder of Mayor Stephanie Arquette, whose body is discovered in a historic fountain constructed specifically for the show in the Għarb square. Lindsay and Vincent intentionally write female characters into diverse roles across the series, from builders to mechanics.
| Production Element | Real-World Location | Character / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gendarmerie Exterior | Private residence, Għarb | Local resident casually walks in and out during shoots |
| La Couronne Pub | Village square building | Run by Sue Holderness and Robin Askwith’s characters |
| Series One Square | Sannat | Initial primary village square used for early episodes |
| Series Two Onwards Square | Għarb | Current primary hub for village square and church scenes |
Romance remains central to the upcoming episodes following taxi driver Dom Hayes’s proposal to antiques dealer Jean White in the series four finale. Lindsay emphasized the deliberate focus on older romance, stating that television rarely depicts mature relationships without tragic tropes or terminal illness. The relationship faces new dynamics with the arrival of Dom’s heavily pregnant daughter Claudie, testing Jean’s adjustment to her new blended family role.
Beyond the main cast, upcoming episodes feature guest appearances from Jason Manford, Lesley Joseph, Brian Capron, Su Pollard, Debbie Lyons, and former cricketer David Gower. Local tourism benefits from the production presence as well.
“People watch Madame Blanc for the sunshine and scenery as much as the murders, and that sunshine and scenery is ours,” said Gaffney, adding that dedicated guides encourage fans to extend their stays.
