A staged explosion on an Islington estate will feature in an episode of Luther later this month.

Islington Gazette: LutherLuther (Image: Archant)

The scene, which was filmed at the Stafford Cripps Estate, Clerkenwell, will feature in an episode of the popular crime series starring Idris Elba on December 15 on BBCOne at 9pm.

During the filming, which took place in March, residents looked on excitedly as and air mortar cannons fired mock debris and fire engines, police officers and ambulances pulled up at the estate.

By coincidence, a member of the public fell and fractured his skull on the pavement during the filming.

The Estate Manager Dennis Frost said: “The film unit’s first aid team took care of him and called the ambulance. It was lucky they were on the site at the time.”

Mr Frost said that the estate really enjoyed hosting the scenes, adding: “Idris Elba certainly has a few fans up here on this estate, and he didn’t seem to mind at all that he’d attracted a lot of bystanders.

“Watching them working was exciting as I’m quite interested in film and TV. I enjoy Luther very much, as it happens.”

He continued: “The special effects were incredible. It was interesting to see how it happens behind the scenes. You feel like you’re really a part of it all coming together.

“It was a great attraction for us, doing our day to day work and then popping out to see some more action filmed. And it’s just a bonus that it’s such a well-known show.”

As a thank you, the production made a donation to residents that will be spent on improving the gardens.

Another scene from the series was also filmed in St John Street, where two plain-clothed detectives entered a dental surgery.