How Steven Moffat and Sue Vertue Obsessively Recreated 10 Downing Street for Channel 4's "Number 10"

Steven Moffat and Sue Vertue Went to "an Obsessive Level of Detail" Rebuilding the UK Prime Minister's Residence at 10 Downing Street for Channel 4's Buzzy Series Number 10. The Acclaimed Deadline Writer and Producer Discussed How They Recreated the Set for the Show Starring Rufus Sewell.

Steven Moffat and Sue Virtue went to "obsessive levels of detail" when renovating the British Prime Minister's 10 Downing Street home for Channel 4's sensational series #10.

The celebrity showrunner and executive producer Deadline talked about how the Rafe Spall-starrer remake was down to "the right doorknobs, the right flower pots, the right wall art, the right colors — everything."

Channel 4's Number 10 is one of the big shows being sold by ITV Studios at MIPCOM this year and follows the fictional British Prime Minister as he goes about his day job behind one of the country's most famous doors. Jenna Coleman and Kathryn Kelly have also played roles in this film. Produced by Heartswood Films. Related News News Who's in Charge Skydance International - At Least Cold War Trailer 'Honey' Gets First Sales After Cannes World Premiere

The Prime Minister's home was recreated at Barry Studios for the interior shots, but Virtue revealed that the exterior shots were shot outside the actual building in central London, with filming taking place at the weekend when the Prime Minister, his family and staff were away. Watch on Deadline

"The first five minutes [of the show] consists of the Prime Minister walking down Downing Street and going through the front door," Verto said. "I said, 'Leave it with me.' Security sensitive areas, but it was still an amazing opportunity."

"But if you're selling a show with the idea of the audience seeing what's going on behind it, then you have to get what's behind it right," added Moffat.

A trailer for No. 10 was shown to press and buyers yesterday, Moffat said, and it captured a tone that seemed to be somewhere between iconic British comedy The Thick of It and a high-end thriller, with plenty of "gallows humor." He's a fan of political biographies and says his research process was obsessive, though he's tight-lipped about which political bigwigs he talked to when putting together the scripts.

"Number 10" is "ultimately an office comedy."

Britain has had seven prime ministers in a decade during a time of political turmoil, but Moffat said he wanted his show to humanize rather than demonize, so he deliberately did not mention the party or allegiance of the fictional prime minister.

"It's a monstrous job," he added. "If prime ministers were lazy, inefficient or dishonest, why do they all seem to age 20 years while in office? Look what it did to Tony Blair. "He still looks haunted."

Number 10 has already been sold to European buyers and Moffat and Vertue are now hoping a US deal will be struck.

"Americans tend to like things that are distinctly English," Moffat added. Sherlock and Doctor Who are two of the best British shows ever made and they traveled very well. It's a political show, but ultimately it's also an office comedy — or maybe an office comedy-drama. "I think that gives it broad appeal."

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