Don't tell Ma Hodge

The White Queen starts tonight...made in Belgium.

The series was commissioned by the Controller of BBC Drama Ben Stephenson. In Belgium the series is supported by BNP Paribas Fortis Film Fund who support Belgium’s Tax Shelter and by the Belgian Broadcaster VRT. An application for support has also been submitted to the Media Fund of the Flanders Audiovisual Fund (VAF).

So Bruges's Gothic Hall is the Royal Court of Westminster Palace. The Heilige Geeststraat is a medieval London street. The Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk is Westminster Chapel. The Heilige Bloedkapel is the Tower of London.  Many of the smaller indoor sets were built in an old Philips factory nearby.

The Belgian deal provides 150% tax exemption for investors in audio-visual productions, provided they have a Belgian partner. David Claikens of BNP Paribas Fortis Filmfonds says “We are the only ones working with a ‘blind fund’, a system in which our clients invest without knowing what production is involved. This means the money is immediately available".  It's estimate that producing The White Queen required some 10 million euros - the highest tax shelter agreed so far.