‘Killing Eve’ is a captivating British drama television series produced for BBC America, which first aired in the United States before making its way to British screens in 2018. With the second season already confirmed by BBC America, let’s delve into 10 intriguing facts about ‘Killing Eve’ that you might not know.
1. Inspired by a Thrilling Novella Series
‘Killing Eve’ is based on a gripping novella series by Luke Jennings called ‘Codename Villanelle’. This collection of four eBook thriller novellas was published between 2014 and 2016.
2. Crafted by the Talented Phoebe Waller-Bridge
The series was masterfully developed by actress and writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who served as the lead screenwriter. Waller-Bridge is also known for her work as the writer and lead actress in the hit comedy series ‘Fleabag’.
3. Sandra Oh’s Unexpected Lead Role
Actress Sandra Oh, who portrays the lead character Eva Polastri, was surprised to land the role. Prior to ‘Killing Eve’, Oh was best-known for her portrayal of Christina Yang in the medical drama series ‘Grey’s Anatomy’.
4. A Critically Acclaimed Series
‘Killing Eve’ has been well received by both viewers and critics, earning multiple award nominations. The series has won the Television Critics Association Award for Outstanding New Program, and various individuals involved in the series have also been nominated for individual awards.
5. Filmed Across Europe’s Stunning Locations
In addition to shooting at West London Film Studios, ‘Killing Eve’ was filmed in various fascinating locations across Europe, including London, Cheshunt, Turville, Paris, Romania, Berlin, and Tuscany. Two of the most interesting British locations used were Nell’s Café near Gravesend, Kent, and Reading Prison in Berkshire.
6. Over a Million Viewers Tuned in for the Season One Finale
In the United States, 1.335 million people watched the final episode of ‘Killing Eve’ season one. This figure combines the 0.701 viewers who watched the episode on television and the 0.633 DVR viewers. As the most popular episode of the season, viewing figures gradually grew with each episode, making it the only series to achieve an unbroken increase in weekly ratings in over a decade.
7. Greater Popularity in the UK Than the US
Although ‘Killing Eve’ is a British-made series, it was originally produced for BBC America. Featuring both British and American actors, the series appeals to both markets. However, it has proven even more popular in the United Kingdom. In the UK, the series was shown on both BBC One and stream-only BBC Three. The combined viewing figure for the first episode was 5.42 million viewers within the first seven days of the series’ release. The series was also popular in Ireland, which was the first European country to air it.
8. A Staggering Body Count in Season One
‘Killing Eve’ is not for the faint-hearted, as season one had a staggering body count of 27. This includes 18 Villanelle murders, six people murdered by other characters, one person killed by Villanelle in self-defense, one accidental death, and one suicide.
9. Unique Driving Scenes with Parked Cars Lifted
During some of the driving sequences filmed in Romania, a low loader car rig was needed to complete the scenes. Parked cars sometimes impeded this process, so Romanian men would simply pick up the cars and move them. Sandra Oh has said that this was the most fun part of filming the series.
10. Three Directors Shaped Season One
Three directors were responsible for the first season of ‘Killing Eve’. Harry Bradbeer directed the first two episodes, Jon East directed episodes three to five, and Damon Thomas directed the final three episodes of season one.
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