LOOE, CORNWALL – Once a quiet fishing town known mostly for its seagulls and tasty pasties, Looe has found itself thrust into the Hollywood limelight after the staggering success of the internationally acclaimed TV series, ‘Beyond Paradise.’ Now, this Cornish gem is the hotbed for showrunners eager to imbibe some of the ‘Looe Charm.’
“It was Looe at first sight,” joked Beyond Paradise’s lead actor Kris Marshell. “Seriously though, the pasties alone should win an Emmy.”
Marshell’s affection for the town seems to have inspired a domino effect in the television industry. Emboldened by the incredible ratings and riveted fan base, other popular series are lining up to capture some of the ‘Looe Magic’ – a phenomenon Hollywood insiders are calling “the Looe Lure.”
First in the queue is none other than HBO’s hit show ‘Westworld.’ Now in its 7th season, the usually tech-noir dystopian series is reportedly adding a “Looe arc.” Producers argue that the AI robots desperately need a seaside holiday, and what better place than the picture-postcard locale of Looe? It’s rumored that robot rebellion scenes will be artfully juxtaposed with crabbing contests, pasty-eating competitions, and long strolls on Hannafore beach.
Meanwhile, the makers of Netflix’s ‘Stranger Things’ are considering a season set in an alternate version of the 1980s Looe. In this timeline, the Upside Down features a menacing version of the Looe Monkey Sanctuary where super intelligent, demogorgon-like capuchin monkeys scheme to take over the sleepy town. Apparently, the Duffer Brothers were inspired by a particularly mischievous monkey during a location-scouting trip.
Even the BBC’s classic ‘Doctor Who’ wants a piece of the Looe pie. The TARDIS is set to materialize in Looe for an adventure featuring alien smugglers, time-traveling Cornish pasties, and a Dalek invasion of St George’s Island. “The Looe locale just brings something extra to our narrative,” said showrunner Chris Chibnall. “Plus, our Daleks have been begging for a beach holiday.”
While the residents of Looe are chuffed with their newfound fame, the local seagulls are less than pleased, regularly photobombing scenes and occasionally making off with props. A particularly crafty seagull, fondly named Steven Seagull by the crew, has become a social media sensation after stealing a Dalek’s eyestalk.
“It’s been a bit of a shock,” admitted Looe’s mayor, chuckling. “One minute you’re a quaint little fishing town, the next, you’re the Hollywood of Cornwall. But we’re taking it in stride. Everyone’s excited, even the seagulls, despite the theatrics.”
Indeed, the ‘Looe Lure’ seems unstoppable. If things continue at this pace, the town might need to consider expanding its infrastructure to accommodate the influx of Tinseltown glitz. But for now, Looe is basking in its unexpected spotlight, proving that the charm of Cornish life can hold its own against the dazzle of international stardom.