Tom Hardy series Taboo filmed at Hatfield House

Taboo follows James Keziah Delaney, who returns to London from Africa in 1814 and is encircled by conspiracy, murder and betrayal.

The eight-episode drama starring Mad Max: Fury Road actor Tom Hardy begins on BBC One on Saturday, January 7.

The show is also executive produced by Hardy alongside legendary Alien and Blade Runner director Ridley Scott and Steven Knight, who created the drama.

Taboo is directed by Kristoffer Nyholm, and reunites Hardy and Knight for their third collaboration following Locke and Peaky Blinders.

When the first trailer for the mini-series was released by the BBC last year, Hatfield House’s Twitter account tweeted: “See how much of Hatfield House you can spot in the first trailer for Taboo!”

The Hertfordshire stately home’s magnificent Marble Hall is clearly recognisable in the most recent trailer for the BBC series.

Set in 1814, the dark family mystery follows Hardy as adventurer James Delaney, who reappears in London, a changed and haunted man.

Presumed dead in Africa many years before, he returns to find his father, Horace Delaney, dead and a country at war with France and the United States.

Set to inherit what’s left of his father’s shipping empire, Delaney’s arrival not only threatens to disrupt the plans of his half-sister Zilpha Geary, played by Game of Thrones actress Oona Chaplin, and her husband Thorne (Jefferson Hall), but also the political ambitions of the mighty East India Company, chaired by Sir Stuart Strange, played by Jonathan Pryce, who was Cardinal Wolsey in Wolf Hall.

His father’s legacy proves a poisoned chalice, and with enemies lurking in every dark corner, Delaney must navigate increasingly complex territories to avoid his own death sentence.

As well as being the co-creator of Taboo with his dad Chips Hardy, Tom Hardy played Alfie Solomons in TV series gangster epic Peaky Blinders .

He also starred opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Oscar-winning movie The Revenant, and was baddie Bane in 2012 Batman movie The Dark Knight Rises.

Taboo stars Tom Hardy [Picture: Courtesy of FX Networks] (Image: WARNING: Use of this copyright image is subject to the terms of use of BBC Pictures' Digital Picture Service (BBC Pictures) a...)

Hardy’s most recent work also includes the lead role in George Miller’s Mad Max reboot Mad Max: Fury Road, and playing twins Reggie and Ronnie in the Krays film Legend.

The London-born Black Hawk Down and Inception star was also in two episodes of Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg’s World War Two TV mini-series Band of Brothers, which was also filmed in Hatfield in 2000.

Hatfield House is a regular location for films, TV programmes and pop videos.

Netflix series The Crown was partly filmed on location at the Jacobean mansion, while Mr Holmes, Paddington, Sherlock Holmes 2 – Game of Shadows, The King’s Speech, The Golden Age, V for Vendetta, Batman Begins, Tomb Raider, Batman, Sleepy Hollow and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies were also filmed at the stately home.

This summer’s DC Comics blockbuster Wonder Woman also used Hatfield House as a location.

The video for Robbie Williams’ song Party Like A Russian, the first single from new album The Heavy Entertainment Show, was also shot at Hatfield House.

• The first episode of Taboo airs on BBC One from 9.15pm to 10.10pm on Saturday, January 7.

• For more on Taboo, visit the BBC’s website at www.bbc.co.uk

Hatfield House's tweet about Taboo being filmed at the Hertfordshire stately home (Image: Archant)

Tom Hardy as James Delaney in Taboo [Picture: FX Networks / Olly Robinson] (Image: WARNING: Use of this copyright image is subject to the terms of use of BBC Pictures' Digital Picture Service (BBC Pictures) a...)