FANS of the hit BBC series Beyond Paradise were treated to high drama on the water with a distinctly Cornish flavour, as RNLI Looe Lifeboat Station played a starring role in the latest episode.

Filmed in Looe, the picturesque harbour once again transformed into the fictional Shipton Abbott, with the town’s lifeboat crew stepping into the spotlight as “Shipton Abbott RNLI”.

In the opening episode of series four, trouble quickly unfolds for Humphrey and Martha Goodman when their houseboat, the Lily Bond, slips its moorings overnight and drifts out into the bay. Things go from bad to worse as the boat begins taking on water, Humphrey injures himself after slipping on oil, and the pair realise there are no lifejackets onboard.

With time running out, Martha fires a distress flare, alerting people onshore and prompting an emergency response. The RNLI lifeboat launches at speed, joined by the harbour team, and races to the scene. The stricken vessel is then safely taken under tow and escorted back to the quayside, bringing the ordeal to a safe end.

While the rescue kept viewers on the edge of their seats, much of the action featured real RNLI volunteers from Looe. Crew members, including helm Jack and volunteers Nathaniel, Alex and Mark, took part in filming, working alongside the cast and production team.

Behind the scenes, shore crew Simon and Adam ensured the safe launch and recovery of the Atlantic 85 lifeboat, Sheila and Dennis Tongue II.

The harbour team also joined in, with assistant harbour master Dave and colleague Tom – both RNLI helms – appearing on screen during the rescue.

The episode, which was broadcast on BBC One on March 27 and can also be viewed on BBC iPlayer, offered a fun and engaging glimpse into lifeboat operations, even if the emergency itself was fictional.