Is Long Marsh prison from Screw on Channel 4 real?

Channel 4's comedic and gritty drama Screw has been captivating audiences with its insight into life in a UK prison. But many fans may be wondering if the show's setting, Long Marsh prison, is actually a real facility.

Screw is a fictional prison inspired by real-life experiences

Screw, created by Bafta-nominated screenwriter Rob Williams, draws inspiration from his own time working and volunteering in a prison. Despite the realistic portrayal of the jail, Long Marsh prison itself does not exist and is purely a creation for the show.

Real-life prison served as the filming location

While Long Marsh prison may be fictional, fans will be pleased to know that the show was filmed in a real-life jail. The chosen location was Peterhead Prison, which operated as a specialist center for sex offenders from 1888 to 2013. The facility, which could hold around 400 prisoners, is now out of use but has become a popular filming location for various productions.

However, although the exterior shots were filmed at Peterhead Prison, most of the interior scenes were actually shot in a Scottish studio. A three-story prison set was built in Kelvin Hall in Glasgow to capture the authentic atmosphere of a jail wing.

Actress Nina Sosanya, who plays Leigh Henry in the drama, shared her thoughts on the replica set, saying, "Once you step through the gates, you're actually in this sort of living, breathing prison with 100 or so cells, most of which can open and lock. There are offices and pool tables, classrooms and medical stores."

She added that the set's design allows for dynamic camera work, saying, "These three levels allow the camera to sweep from one place to another, creating a sense of movement and avoiding a claustrophobic or repetitive look."

Visiting Long Marsh prison and exploring Peterhead Prison

As Long Marsh prison is a fictional creation, it is not possible to visit the facility. However, fans of the show can still explore the real-life Peterhead Prison, which is now a museum. Located in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, this infamous building is known as "Scotland's toughest prison." Tickets for a family pass cost up to £27.

Watching Screw and upcoming TV schedule

If you haven't caught up with Screw, you can watch season 1 on the Channel 4 streaming site. Season 2 is currently airing on Channel 4 every Thursday at 9pm, with the final episode set to air on October 5, 2023. Each episode of the six-part series has a runtime of 45 minutes.