Catherine Tyldesley films scenes in the early hours for ITV police drama Viewpoint alongside Noel Clarke after he backs down on claims he demanded a more diverse crew

Catherine Tyldesley has begun filming on ITV's gritty new police drama Viewpoint.

The Coronation Street actress, 36, was out on the streets of Manchester into the early hours of Friday morning for her scenes.

The former Strictly dancer was joined by her costar Noel Clarke, who plays the lead in the surveillance thriller, and said he demanded a more diverse crew on a new filming project. 

Under way: Catherine Tyldesley, pictured with costar Dominic Allburn, has begun filming on ITV's gritty new police drama Viewpoint in Manchester

Catherine and Noel were also joined by Dominic Allburn and Alexandra Roach as they filmed in the rain.

During filming, Catherine wore a long woollen coat as she stood in the doorway next to a missing person's sign.

Her role has not yet been announced but she was seen standing arm in arm with a young girl for her scenes. 

New project: The former Strictly dancer was joined by her costar Noel Clarke who recently admitted he demanded more diversity in the crew of a new TV project

New job: Catherine's role has not yet been announced but she was seen standing arm in arm with a young girl for her scenes

Drama: During filming, Catherine wore a long woollen coat as she stood in the doorway next to a missing person's sign

Speaking out: It comes after Noel, who plays the lead in the surveillance thriller, revealed how he demanded producers 'fix' the lack of diversity on a new project

Viewpoint, which is headed up by Fleabag director Harry Bradbeer, follows a tense police surveillance investigation into a close Manchester community.

The five-part series will explore the nature of surveillance and whether police can observe a community with objectivity and without an effect.

In the show, DC Martin King sets up his observation post in the home of single mother and secret voyeur, Zoe Sterling, played by Alexandra Roach. 

All star cast: Dominic Allburn, who has previously appeared in A Place To Call Home, was seen holding an umbrella

Solemn: The former Strictly dancer was joined by her costars Noel and Dominic in the rain as they filmed outside a house

In the show, DC Martin King sets up his observation post in the home of single mother and secret voyeur, Zoe Sterling, played by Alexandra Roach

Zoe's windows look on to Westbury Square and the home of missing primary school teacher Gemma Hillman, played by Tutenkhamun star Amy Wren.

She shares the home with boyfriend and prime suspect in her disappearance, Greg Sullivan, played by I May Destroy You actor Fehinti Balogun.

The series is based on an idea by Emmy award-winning director Harry Bradbeer and written with Silent Witness creator Ed Whitmore.

It comes after lead actor Noel backed down on his claim that he demanded producers 'fix' the lack of diversity on 'day one' of a shooting project. 

Thriller: Viewpoint, which is headed up by Fleabag director Harry Bradbeer, follows a tense police surveillance investigation into a close Manchester community

Intriguing: The five-part series will explore the nature of surveillance and whether police can observe a community with objectivity and without an effect

Stellar: The series is based on an idea by Emmy award-winning director Harry Bradbeer and written with Silent Witness creator Ed Whitmore

Speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival, the 44-year-old actor initially claimed that he had immediately called in producers and insisted upon quick action to apparently dismiss some staff and replace them with trainees. 

But Mr Clarke has since backtracked on his statements, instead suggesting that nobody had lost their job and 'it wasn't as big as it was made out to be'.

He told Nihal Arthanayake on BBC Radio 5 Live today: 'I come onto set and I look around, probably wasn't day one - probably more like day two - and I'm like this is not enough. And I spoke to people and they said yeah fine you're right, we'll do something about it. It wasn't as big as it was made out to be. 

Making changes: It comes after lead actor Noel backed down on his claim that he demanded producers 'fix' the lack of diversity on 'day one' of a shooting project

New story: In the show, Zoe's windows look on to Westbury Square and the home of missing primary school teacher Gemma Hillman, played by Tutenkhamun star Amy Wren.

Exciting: Viewpoint is the first ITV drama to begin filming since lockdown began back in March

Back at work: Catherine looked in good spirits between takes on set as she smiled with her costars

'I was like 'it's a production in association with my company. I'm here leading the show, this is not how it should be.' It was a five minute conversation where the person said - I completely agree with you we're on it. 

'Nobody's losing any jobs, nobody's getting replaced or anything like that. It's so there's space to get people on the ladder. And that's what's happened.'  

While not revealing the name of the project, his initial comments came the same day ITV announced he would be starring in Viewpoint.  

Mr Clarke had said: 'I'm on a job now which I can't mention and I came in on day one and I'm the lead actor and I was like, "The crew's not diverse enough, fix, fix it."

Battling the elements: The stars had to stand outside in the pouring rain in the early hours for their scenes

Mr Clarke had said: 'I'm on a job now which I can't mention and I came in on day one and I'm the lead actor and I was like, "The crew's not diverse enough, fix, fix it"

On hand: Assistants were making sure Catherine maintained her perfect looks despite the conditions

'I don't care if there's trainees, because this job's trainees is the next job's runner, then the next job's assistant, then they're a supervisor, then in five year's time or three year's time, we have more people in the business from different backgrounds; socio-economic, not just about colour.'

ITV has not responded when asked if Viewpoint was the show in question, or if there was a wholesale change in production personnel as a result of Mr Clarke's request.

The actor has regularly spoken out about racism and previously claimed TV channels refused to back his Sky One show Bulletproof because it was led by two black actors. 

Silent: ITV has not responded when asked if Viewpoint was the show in question, or if there was a wholesale change in production personnel as a result of Mr Clarke's request

Honest: The actor has regularly spoken out about racism and previously claimed TV channels refused to back his Sky One show Bulletproof because it was led by two black actors