Forest of Dean businesses are getting ready for a second helping of the ‘Sex Education effect’ following the release of season two of a popular Netflix drama, a tourism group has revealed.
Season two of Sex Education was released to the streaming service on Friday 17 January 2020, with Forest of Dean and the Wye Valley continuing to play a starring role throughout the new series.
Enjoyed by millions around the world first time around, the eight new episodes of Sex Education continue to follow Otis (Asa Butterfield), the son of sex therapist Jean (Gillian Anderson), and his hilarious and often cringeworthy quest to advise his peers on their sexual problems.
The first season saw the Forest of Dean and the Wye Valley used regularly as filming locations – one of the most striking was the distinctive red and white house known as The Chalet, which overlooks Symonds Yat, as the home of Otis and Jean, as well as Tintern, Bigsweir House on the River Wye and Browns Village Stores in Llandogo.
Season two includes even more of the region’s beauty spots including Bathhurst Pool in Lydney, Dean Forest Railway and its Parkend station, Monmouth high street and riverside playing fields, the arcade at Symonds Yat West, the 19th Century bridge at Redbrook, as well as the village of St Briavels and the 12th Century castle.
A filming location for blockbusters such as Star Wars, Harry Potter and King Arthur, Helen O’Kane, co-chair of Forest of Dean & Wye Valley Tourism, said: ‘Location managers seem to be drawn to our diverse landscapes, accessibility and the fact we are still perceived as something of a hidden gem.’
‘Our members are hoping that the beauty of the region will continue to shine through in the latest series and motivate more visitors to seek us out.’
Chris Rollinson, proprietor of the Saracens Head, a gastro pub located at Symonds Yat, near The Chalet, said: ‘We can’t wait for a new wave of interest from this next series. We’ve been totally blown away by the number of people coming here because of Sex Education.
‘They usually want to know if we have had the main stars of the show in the pub and how they can get the best selfie with The Chalet in the background!’
