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Savvy Scouts and Spies Conquer Logistical Challenges to Capture Stunning TV Locations
10 Sep
Summary
- "Top Chef" producers coordinate with tourism agencies to minimize disruption to restaurants
- "Slow Horses" team seeks a grittier, more international look for London locations
- "The Traitors" films in remote Scottish castle to evoke mystery and isolation

As of September 10th, 2025, TV shows are proving that the process of securing the right filming locations is a strategic game of "3D chess." Producers are waging a battle between artistic vision and practical realities to deliver visually stunning backdrops for Emmy-nominated series.
For the 22nd season of "Top Chef: Destination Canada," the Magical Elves team coordinated with Destination Canada to film at 14 restaurants across Toronto, Calgary, and Canmore, often in a single day or less to minimize disruption. When smaller venues couldn't accommodate the full crew, they found creative solutions like having chefs taste the food for inspiration.
Meanwhile, the "Slow Horses" team sought a grittier, more international look for London, eschewing the familiar tropes of British TV. They focused on gritty, anonymous locations like a Chinese restaurant and the crumbling Slough House to contrast with the sleek bureaucratic offices.
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In the remote Scottish Highlands, "The Traitors" found the perfect setting in Ardross Castle, which provided a "slightly sinister, Gothic edge" to the murder-mystery competition. The show's producers have built a production village within the castle grounds to overcome the lack of traditional infrastructure.