A Lowestoft historical re-enactment group played a starring role in the hit Christmas special of the BBC series Detectorists.
The Wuffa Viking and Saxon Re-enactment Society featured as a group of Saxons in a flashback sequence in the show, which follows the fortunes of metal detectorists Andy and Lance (played by Mackenzie Crook and Toby Jones).
In the episode, which was shot extensively in Framlingham, Suffolk, the pair unearth a mysterious relic which threatens the future of their friendship and their detecting club.
Toby Jones and Mackenzie Crooke filming in Saxmundham (Image: Charlotte Bond)
Fraser Carson, 37 and 'Jarl' - or leader - of the re-enactment society, said: "It was really good fun.
"We were up to our knees in a foot-deep pit of mud to make it real so it felt very 'in the moment'."
The society had been approached by the BBC production team after doing a short film called Maximus.
"The Maximus team recommended us because the Detectorists were looking for Dark Age Saxon-style warriors," Mr Carson said.
Members of the Wuffa Re-enactment Society (Image: Wuffa Viking and Saxon Re-enactment Society)
"I'd asked to see a script so we knew roughly the storyline of what we were doing. I always try to see a script so we aren't committing ourselves to something that reflects us poorly.
"It's not too abnormal for us to be on sets - we have members who were in Gladiator and Transformers. But this is probably our biggest project as a group.
"We only had one or two months' notice so it was a smaller group of us - ten local warriors."
Filming takes place at Saxmundham railway station (Image: Charlotte Bond)
The shoot took place at a former airfield in Suffolk.
"We went down with all our gear and the makeup team put lots of mud and blood on us which was interesting.
"Then we worked with the stunt team because our weapons are real metal so they can cause bangs and breaks.
"During filming there are quick moments of excitement and stretches of waiting.
The Wuffa Society in the Detectorists (Image: BBC)
"We were filming a shield clash and the production team was throwing more mud, blood and water over us which made our acting very 'method'.
"It took us ages to clean our kit afterwards but it was fun."
The group has branches in Lowestoft and Ipswich.
It organises weekly meetups and is seeking new members.
The group stresses that it is not just a combat group, but is also interested in re-enacting cooking, blacksmithing and tailoring.
The Christmas special of the Detectorists was one of the highlights of the BBC's festive scheduling and was broadcast at prime time on Boxing Day.
It is available to watch on iPlayer.
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