The Reluctant Vampire is a 2026 family comedy series from the BBC, made by Boffola Pictures. It is adapted by Neil and Rob Gibbons from the 1982 children’s novel by Eric Morecambe, and directed by Emily McDonald.
The main cast includes Lenny Rush, Tom Davis, Sian Clifford, Charlie Cooper, Asim Chaudhry, Joe Wilkinson, Kiell Smith-Bynoe and Esther Smith, with Bill Bailey and Ross Noble as gargoyles. The series was filmed in Gloucestershire, England.
Val has been raised in a conventional vampire family, but he is not good at the bloodthirsty rites. Then he finds out by accident, after seeing his own reflection, that he is not a vampire at all. His mum has kept it secret from him, and he has to live a double life. It is a light horror comedy for the whole family.
The Reluctant Vampire premiered on BBC One on Sunday, October 4, 2026, at 6:40pm. It has six episodes of about 30 minutes each, and all six were on BBC iPlayer from the first day.
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When and Where Was The Reluctant Vampire Filmed?
| Series Name | The Reluctant Vampire |
|---|---|
| Genres | Comedy, Horror, Family |
| Filming Locations | Woodchester Mansion and Nympsfield, Gloucestershire, England, UK |
| Filming Dates | November 3, 2025 to December 2025 (reported) |
| Location Management by | Toby Eliot, Rebecca Pearson |
| Release Date | October 4, 2026 |
According to The Knowledge, filming began on November 3, 2025. Wikipedia says it continued into December, and a local report dated December 2 says the crew was filming at Woodchester Mansion.
📍Woodchester Mansion, Nympsfield, Gloucestershire
Address: Trust Woodchester Park, Woodchester Mansion, Nympsfield, Stonehouse GL10 3TS, United Kingdom
Woodchester Mansion is the main location and plays the vampires’ castle on the hill. The series is set in a timeless English village, and the family comes out at night from the castle.
Stroud Times says the mansion sits inside the National Trust’s Woodchester Park estate. Location broker Silverstein Locations, which represents the property, says it stands in a secluded Cotswold valley. Work on it began in the 1850s and stopped before it was finished, so exposed stonework and unfinished staircases remain inside. According to Wikipedia, it is a Grade I listed Gothic Revival house.
Visiting: The mansion is run by a trust and opens to the public on Fridays to Sundays and bank holiday Mondays from April 1 to October 31, with an entrance fee. The surrounding park is National Trust land with a pay-and-display car park. Please check opening days before you go.
📍The Rose & Crown, Nympsfield
Stroud Times reports that the series was also partly filmed at The Rose & Crown, the village pub in Nympsfield. We could not confirm which scenes were shot there.
Visiting: Since it is a working pub, please check opening hours before visiting.
📍Other Areas of Gloucestershire
A BBC News report says the series was filmed in a number of locations across the West of England, and names Woodchester Mansion and a place called Saxon Barn. We could not confirm where Saxon Barn is or which scenes were shot there. No other exact places have been named, so please treat any other village you see as unconfirmed. Another BBC comedy from the same production company is Ann Droid, and Small Prophets is another BBC comedy-drama in our guides.
The Reluctant Vampire Behind the Scenes
To make your search for The Reluctant Vampire filming even more interesting, here is what has been shared so far. Executive producer Shane Allen has said that shooting at a real location gave the series an atmosphere a studio could not copy. The Radio Times reported that some cast members found the late-night shifts spooky, with caretakers’ ghost stories making the dark rooms feel stranger.
Fun fact: the BBC shared the first clip on May 14, 2026, which would have been Eric Morecambe’s 100th birthday. If you like British mysteries set in England, our guide to Marble Hall Murders is a good next read.
We will add more cast and crew Instagram posts and set photos here as soon as they are shared.
Is There Any Trailer Available for The Reluctant Vampire?
Yes. The BBC released the official trailer in late September 2026, along with the October 4 start date. It shows Val trying to live up to his father Victor’s high expectations, and features Bill Bailey and Ross Noble as gargoyles. You can watch it through the BBC’s official channels.
The Reluctant Vampire is on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK, and all six episodes are available. ZDFneo co-produced the series. One listing says it will stream on ZDF in Germany from November 20, 2026. We could not confirm dates for other countries, so please check before you plan to watch.
FAQs
Q1: Where was The Reluctant Vampire filmed?
A1: It was filmed in Gloucestershire, England. The named places are Woodchester Mansion and The Rose & Crown in Nympsfield.
Q2: When was The Reluctant Vampire filmed?
A2: Filming began on November 3, 2025, and continued into December. We could not confirm the wrap date.
Q3: Which castle is used in The Reluctant Vampire?
A3: The vampires’ castle is Woodchester Mansion, an unfinished Victorian Gothic house near Nympsfield.
Q4: Who is in the cast of The Reluctant Vampire?
A4: Lenny Rush plays Val, with Tom Davis, Sian Clifford, Charlie Cooper, Asim Chaudhry and Joe Wilkinson. Bill Bailey and Ross Noble play gargoyles.
Q5: Can I visit Woodchester Mansion?
A5: Yes, on its open days. It opens Fridays to Sundays and bank holiday Mondays from April 1 to October 31, with an entrance fee. Please check before you go.
Q6: Where can I watch The Reluctant Vampire?
A6: It is on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK. All six episodes are available.
The Reluctant Vampire was filmed in Gloucestershire, with Woodchester Mansion as the vampires’ castle.
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