V&A Dundee: As Seen on Screen

With its bold, futuristic façade and dramatic waterfront setting, V&A Dundee is increasingly sought after as a filming location for TV productions.

As the only Kengo Kuma- designed building in the UK, its growing on-screen presence not only showcases its distinctive design to a global audience but also strengthens its cultural influence, attracting more visitors and boosting Dundee’s reputation as a hub of creativity.  

This month we opened a new fashion display, in tandem with the launch of a new two-part series, Icons of Style, which just landed on BBC iPlayer. Presented by broadcaster Kirsty Wark, the programme explores how Scotland has helped shape the UK and global fashion industries. The show also features V&A Dundee’s Curator Kirsty Hassard, spotlighting iconic designs from seven Scottish fashion designers spanning seven decades.  

This isn’t the only time the museum has been featured on the small screen, so let’s look back at some of our favourite moments of V&A Dundee onscreen. 

Starting with 2019, Antiques Roadshow, presented by Fiona Bruce, travelled to Dundee, with the building’s striking architecture serving as a stunning backdrop for the episode. The show featured a range of unique items and heirlooms brought in by locals, while showcasing the city's iconic waterfront. 

In 2022, the Secrets of the Museum series offered viewers a unique behind-the-scenes look at the V&A museums, uncovering the hidden stories behind design treasures from the museum's extensive collections. In the second series, the spotlight falls on Minnie the Minx, a rebellious feminist icon and comic book legend created in Dundee. Curator Meredith More collaborated with Laura Howell, the Beano's first female artist, to ensure that Minnie took her well-deserved place in the Scottish Design Galleries. 

Earlier this year, The Repair Shop on the Road dedicated its first episode to the city of Dundee. Presenter and conservation expert, Lucia Scalisi, pays a visit to the museum and hears the story of how a tearoom designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, found its way from Ingram Street in Glasgow to our Scottish Design Galleries. Made possible by a long-term long loan administered by the charity Glasgow Life on behalf of the council, the Oak Room is a rare example of a complete Mackintosh interior, which was lovingly rebuilt and restored, and is now a highlight of the galleries. 

The critically acclaimed series Succession, starring Dundee native Brian Cox, brought international attention to V&A Dundee in 2019. In a standout episode from Season 2, the fictional Roy family travels to Dundee to celebrate Logan Roy’s 50th anniversary as CEO of Waystar RoyCo, with Cox portraying the powerful media mogul. The museum’s Locke Hall serves as the setting for one of the series' most unforgettable and cringe-worthy moments, thanks to an unexpected performance by Jeremy Strong’s character, Kendall Roy. L to the OG, anyone? 

Next time you pay us a visit, see if you can spot the locations or displays as seen on screen!  

Find out more: 

Icons of Style (Two Rivers Media) – Watch the two-part series 
Antiques Roadshow (BBC Studios Factual Entertainment Productions) - Watch clips from Season 42, Episode 1 
Secrets of the Museum (Blast! Films) – Watch clip 
The Repair Shop on the Road (Ricochet Limited, a Warner Bros. International Television Production Company) – Watch the full episode 
Succession (Gary Sanchez Productions, Project Zeus, and Hyperobject Industries) 

Interested in filming at V&A Dundee? Contact press@vandadundee.org for more information. 

For further information about filming across Tayside and Fife, visit FifeScreen+TayScreen Scotland.