Viewers tuning in to watch Hollywood star Tom Hardy’s new BBC One period drama Taboo tonight will see Hatfield on their TV screens.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1fiijqrKuc

The eight-episode drama starring Mad Max: Fury Road actor Tom Hardy begins on BBC One tonight (Saturday, January 7), starting at 9.15pm.

Hatfield House and the Hertfordshire stately home’s sprawling estate were both used as locations for the dark family mystery.

When the initial trailer for the series was released by the BBC last year, Hatfield House’s Twitter account tweeted: “See how much of Hatfield House you can spot in the first trailer for Taboo!”

https://twitter.com/Hatfield_House/status/703160984093851650

The Welwyn Hatfield Times can reveal that the mansion’s magnificent Marble Hall was one of the rooms used for Taboo.

The crew also filmed in The Long Gallery, The King James Drawing Room, The Armoury and The Library, with stars Tom Hardy and Jonathan Pryce on set.

Hatfield House’s South Front also features in the series, as does the Broadwater, where the River Lea flows through Hatfield Park.

https://twitter.com/BBCOne/status/702908436896288768

Sarah Cardall-Spawforth, senior operations manager at the house, said: “We had great pleasure in welcoming the talented cast and crew of Taboo to Hatfield House last spring for filming.

“Actors including Tom Hardy, Jonathan Pryce and Jason Watkins joined us on the estate to create this fantastic BBC One primetime drama.

“We will be glued to our screens to watch it premiere this weekend!”

Welwyn Hatfield Times: Taboo stars Tom Hardy [Picture: Courtesy of FX Networks]Taboo stars Tom Hardy [Picture: Courtesy of FX Networks] (Image: WARNING: Use of this copyright image is subject to the terms of use of BBC Pictures' Digital Picture Service (BBC Pictures) a...)

Taboo follows James Keziah Delaney, played by Hardy, as he returns to London from Africa and is encircled by conspiracy, murder and betrayal.

The series is executive produced by Hardy alongside Alien and Blade Runner director Ridley Scott and Steven Knight, who created the drama.

The show reunites Hardy and Knight for their third collaboration following Locke and Peaky Blinders.

Set in 1814, the action follows a heavily tattooed Hardy as adventurer James Delaney, who reappears in London a changed and haunted man.

Presumed dead in Africa many years before, he returns to claim his father’s legacy.

Set to inherit what’s left of his dad’s shipping empire, Delaney’s arrival not only threatens to disrupt the plans of his half-sister Zilpha Geary, played by Oona Chaplin, and her husband Thorne (Jefferson Hall), but also the political ambitions of the mighty East India Company, chaired by Sir Stuart Strange.

Welwyn Hatfield Times: Tom Hardy as James Delaney in Taboo [Picture: Courtesy of FX Networks / Robert Viglasky]Tom Hardy as James Delaney in Taboo [Picture: Courtesy of FX Networks / Robert Viglasky] (Image: WARNING: Use of this copyright image is subject to the terms of use of BBC Pictures' Digital Picture Service (BBC Pictures) a...)

Sir Stuart is played by Jonathan Pryce, who was Cardinal Wolsey in Wolf Hall.

As well as being the co-creator of Taboo with his dad Chips Hardy, Tom Hardy played Alfie Solomons in TV series gangster epic Peaky Blinders.

He also starred opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in the Oscar-winning movie The Revenant, and was villain Bane in 2012 Batman movie The Dark Knight Rises.

Welwyn Hatfield Times: Jonathan Pryce as Sir Stuart Strange in Taboo [Picture: Courtesy of FX Networks / Robert Viglasky]Jonathan Pryce as Sir Stuart Strange in Taboo [Picture: Courtesy of FX Networks / Robert Viglasky] (Image: WARNING: Use of this copyright image is subject to the terms of use of BBC Pictures' Digital Picture Service (BBC Pictures) a...)

Hardy’s recent work also includes the lead role in George Miller’s Mad Max reboot Mad Max: Fury Road, and playing twins Reggie and Ronnie in the Krays film Legend.

The London-born Black Hawk Down and Inception star was also in two episodes of Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg’s World War Two TV mini-series Band of Brothers, which was also filmed in Hatfield in 2000.

Hatfield House is a regular location for films, TV programmes and pop videos.

Welwyn Hatfield Times: Tom Hardy as James Delaney in Taboo [Picture: FX Networks / Olly Robinson]Tom Hardy as James Delaney in Taboo [Picture: FX Networks / Olly Robinson] (Image: WARNING: Use of this copyright image is subject to the terms of use of BBC Pictures' Digital Picture Service (BBC Pictures) a...)

Netflix series The Crown was partly filmed on location at the Jacobean mansion, while movies Mr Holmes, Paddington, Sherlock Holmes 2 – Game of Shadows, and The King’s Speech were also filmed at the stately home.

The Old Hatfield location’s credits also include Batman Begins, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Tomb Raider, Batman, Sleepy Hollow, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

This summer’s DC Comics blockbuster Wonder Woman was also partly filmed at Hatfield House.

The video for Robbie Williams hit Party Like A Russian, the first single from new album The Heavy Entertainment Show, was also recently shot at Hatfield House.

• Episode two of Taboo will be screened on Saturday, January 14 at 9.15pm.

In the second episode of eight, Delaney assembles his crew, but an unexpected arrival threatens to disrupt his plans.

• For more on Taboo, visit the BBC’s website at www.bbc.co.uk