Lucy Worsley looks at Cottingley Fairies hoax for TV show

Scenes for a new three-part BBC Two series, with the working title ‘Sherlock: Lucy Worsley on Holmes Vs Doyle’, were filmed in Cottingley on Friday (August 18). 

The programme sees the historian and TV presenter Lucy Worsley examining the continually evolving relationship between scientist and author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his creation, Sherlock Holmes.

Lucy Worsley looks at the Cottingley Fairies hoax in the programme (Image: Newsquest)

During the forthcoming series, Lucy will unpick how Sir Arthur drew on the unprecedented scientific, cultural, and industrial changes happening all around him to bring Holmes to life for his classic novel.

In the third episode of the series, set to be broadcast in November, Lucy explores the story of the Cottingley Fairies and Sir Arthur’s firm belief that the picture was real.

Lucy Worsley in action during filming in Cottingley (Image: Newsquest)

The images of cut-out fairies stuck onto trees with hat pins, taken by cousins Frances Griffiths and Elsie Wright at Cottingley Beck in 1917 and 1920, fooled many, including Sir Arthur.

He brought the photographs to public attention and was so convinced they were genuine that he gave the girls an expensive camera to capture more fairies and gnomes on film.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Image: PA)

The hoax was kept secret for more than 60 years until Geoffrey Crawley, photographic expert and editor of the British Journal of Photography, tried to establish how the images were created.

He tested the original cameras used by the girls and in 1983 published articles saying why the pictures were fake, which led to a confession from the cousins.

Lucy filmed scenes for the new TV programme at Cottingley Town Hall.

A black and white version of the Cottingley Fairies photograph (Image: PA)

She also went to the same location where the fairy images were taken.

The aim of the new BBC history series is for Lucy and the viewers to get into the mindset of Elsie and Frances and explore Doyle’s reaction at that time.

Monica Robinson, of Cottingley History Society, said the group was excited to take part in the filming after being contacted by the production company.

A colour version of the Cottingley Fairies photograph (Image: Dominic Winter Auctioneers)

She said: “Our help was requested with location and any information that would help with their visit.

“We have been delighted to assist and wanted to give Lucy and the production crew a great Cottingley welcome.”

The centenary of the photographs was marked in July 2017 by a fun day in Cottingley which included a display on the history of the fairy photographs, a welly-wanging competition, and a fairy fancy dress competition for children.