Millions of viewers saw Painshill on prime time Saturday night TV as our 18th-century landscape featured on BBC1’s The Greatest Dancer.
The show, in which dance acts compete for a £50,000 prize and the chance to appear on Strictly Come Dancing, had an international theme this week and contestant Hannah Martin was tasked with performing a routine based on Greece.
Painshill’s replica of the Temple of Bacchus was used in a video segment in which Hannah, a former British Rhythmic Gymnastics champion, practised her routine before performing it to judges Oti Mabuse, Cheryl Cole, Matthew Morrison and Todrick Hall.
Paul Griffiths, Director of Painshill, said: “This shoot was great fun to do and a brilliant opportunity to show Painshill off on one of TV’s biggest shows. We’ve had lots of positive feedback, with plenty of comments about how beautiful the park looked!”
Despite appearances, the Temple of Bacchus isn’t actually Greek – the original was built to house a statue of Bacchus, the Roman god of wine and busts of Roman emperors. The architectural order used on the Temple was a variety of Roman Doric including high and thin columns and molded column bases. The version at Painshill is one of several eccentric follies dotted around the 158-acre garden, developed in the 18th century by the honourable Charlies Hamilton.
Painshill is a popular location for film crews – its lake currently features in an advert for insurance company Experian, and it also featured in the Netflix hit Black Mirror.
