Series 4 of gritty crime drama Luther, starring Idris Elba, required a house in a remote location where our hero could hide out. The Coastguard Cottages, over the brow of Seaford Head and overlooking the Seven Sisters, proved suitably dramatic for a two-parter when Luther would meet, as billed, ‘his most chilling adversary to date’.
Filming proved be good for the economy and had spin-off advantages. One eagle-eyed Seaford businesswoman sent Idris some flowers and got a personal phone call ‘thank you’ from him. The story was picked up by the local and national press and customers flocked.