A BBC comedy series made a disused hall of residence in Trent Park into a makeshift set.

BBC Three’s Murder in Successville, a sitcom in which guest stars such as presenters Greg James, Dermot O’Leary, Pussycat Doll Kimberley Wyatt, and Olympian Louis Smith try to solve the latest crimes, used the site earlier this year in Snakes Lane, Cockfosters.

The accommodation sits adjacent to the Grade II-listed Trent Park mansion and was sold by Middlesex University in August 2013 to Malaysia’s Allianze University College of Medical Sciences for £30.9 million.

However, plans to build a new university on the site were abandoned when the university went into liquidation last May – leaving the site almost empty but for two security guards.

Film crews were seen at the site where the programme transformed some of the disused student digs into a film set including the ‘successville’ police station, Alan Sugar’s and sweets, and a sex shop.

The site has sparked much debate amongst park groups who are hoping to safeguard the historic mansion’s future after fears it is to be sold to property developers.

An application by the Save Trent Park campaign to make the site an asset of community value was rejected by Enfield Borough Council.

But a working group has been set up by councillors to ensure the mansion and accommodation is used for public value.