Author: Kent Film Office

Catastrophe Series 4 (2019)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Sharon (Sharon Horgan) and Rob (Rob Delaney) cast from the series. The two are sitting on a rock by the side of the road, looking up to the sky.

Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney ©Channel 4

 

Writers: Rob Delaney and Sharon Horgan

Director: Ben Taylor

Starring: Sharon Horgan, Rob Delaney, Mark Bonnar, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Chris Noth

Production Company: Avalon Television

Kent Locations Used: Whitstable, Royal Tunbridge Wells

Catastrophe, Channel 4’s popular comedy series,  follows the lives of American Rob (Rob Delaney) and Sharon (Sharon Horgan) his Irish wife from Ireland who first met on a business trip to London. The latest series catches up with them four years after they first met as Rob tackles his alcoholism and we see its impact on their relationship. It also includes the fictional funeral of Mia (Carrie Fisher), Rob’s mother as actress Carrie Fisher who sadly passed away after the filming of Series 3.

Starring Sharon Horgan (Game Night, Moone Boy) as Sharon Morris, Rob Delaney (Deadpool 2, Action Team) as Rob Norris, Mark Bonnar (Shetland, Take Down) as Chris, and guest starring Julie Hesmondhalgh (Coronation Street, Broadchurch) and Chris Noth (Sex and the City, Tyrant).

Filming for Mia’s funeral took place at Beacon House in the seaside town of Whitstable, which doubled as a house in Boston. The house is situated above a natural promontory, called The Street, which stretches out to sea for about half a mile. Another location used in Whitstable was The Lobster Shack, which is located at the edge of the harbour with stunning sea views.  Whitstable is a popular filming location and previous productions include Wayfaring Stranger (2008), The Things I Haven’t Told You (2008), and Mr Turner (2014).

The Pantiles in Royal Tunbridge Wells also featured in the new series and doubled as Boston. This area with shops, bars and live music offers a great shopping experience. The buildings, some of which are over 400 years old, still have some original features, though the overall impression is of a Georgian terrace that plays host to events from farmers markets to live Jazz and Christmas fairs. Royal Tunbridge Wells is credited in films and TV series such as The Royals Season 4 (2018).

The Channel 4 comedy will run over six episodes, the first of which is expected to air on 7th January 2019 at 10pm on Channel 4.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map. 

The Favourite (2019)

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Olivia Colman as Queen Anne in The Favourite. Side view of Olivia wearing a cloak and crown staring into the distance.

Olivia Colman as Queen Anne in The Favourite ©Fox Searchlight

Writer: Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara

Director: Yorgos Lanthimos

Starring: Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, Olivia Colman and Rachel Weisz

Production Company: Element Pictures, Scarlet Films, Film4, Waypoint Entertainment

Kent locations Used: Knole

The Favourite had its world premiere at the 75th Venice International Film Festival in August 2018 where it won two awards. The film is a historical comedy-drama and is set in early 18th Century England. The story follows the life of dysfunctional monarch, Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) and Anne’s close friend and lover, Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz), who effectively rules the country. However, her efforts to control Anne are undermined when Sarah’s impoverished younger cousin Abigail (Emma Stone) comes to work for Anne as a maid and the two women vie for Queen Anne’s favour.

Emma Stone as Abigail in The Favourite. Emma laying on a bed in a large black and white dress staring at the camera with a fire on in the background.

Emma Stone as Abigail in The Favourite ©Fox Searchlight

The film was directed by Yorgos Lanthimos (The Lobster, The Killing of a Sacred Deer) and written by Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara. Starring are Olivia Colman  (The Crown), Emma Stone (La La land), Rachel Weisz, and Nicholas Hoult (Mad Max: Fury Road).

Knole Park was used as the exterior of Westminster Place in a carriage scene that sees our protagonists abused by the peasantry. Sadly, we think this scene may have ended up on the cutting room floor, but do let us know if you spotted it!

Knole in Sevenoaks is the last medieval deer park in Kent surrounding a 600-year-old estate which has previously doubled for The Palace of Westminster during Tudor Times. Other features that filmed at Knole included The Other Boleyn Girl (2008), Burke and Hare (2010) and Sherlock Holmes – A Game of Shadows (2011).

The Favourite will be released in UK cinemas on 1st January 2019.

 

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map. 

Holmes & Watson (2018)

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Movie poster of Holmes and Watson (Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly). Both staring into the camera in front of a horse wearing period suits. John is wearing a hat.

Sherlock Holmes (Will Ferrell) and Watson (John C. Reilly) ©Columbia Pictures

 

Writer:​ ​Etan Cohen​

Director: ​Etan Cohen

Starring: ​Will Ferrell​, ​John C. Reilly​, Ralph Fiennes

Production Company​: Columbia Pictures Corporation, Gary Sanchez Productions, Mosaic Media Group, Mimran Schur Pictures

Kent Locations Used​: The Historic Dockyard Chatham

Holmes & Watson is a comedic revision of ​Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s​ classic mysteries and his famed literary characters, detective Sherlock Holmes (played by Will Ferrell​) and his sidekick, Dr John Watson (played by John C. Reilly​). The pair join forces to investigate a murder at Buckingham Palace and learn that they have just four days to stop their arch enemy, Professor Moriarty (​Ralph Fiennes)​, or the queen will become his next victim.

The film was written and directed by Etan Cohen (Men in Black 3 and Tropic Thunder), and stars Will Ferrell​ (​Anchorma​n,​ Zoolander​, ​Step Brothers), ​John C. Reilly​ (​Step Brothers​, ​Guardians of the Galaxy​, ​We Need to Talk About Kevin​) and ​Ralph Fiennes​ (​The Grand Budapest Hotel​, ​Schindler’s List, ​Harry Potter​).

Holmes & Watson​ features several locations around ​The Historic Dockyard Chatham​. The interior of the Tarred Yarn Store was trasformed into a bar tavern, the interior of the Ropery played the role of a Boxing Club, while the streets around the Ropery and Anchor Wharf stood in as London streets and docks. Some external scenes were also filmed around Officers Terrace.

The Historic Dockyard, Chatham​ has been used in an array of productions such as Mr. Holmes (2015), Partners in Crime (2015), and The Suspicions of Mr Whicher (2014).

Holmes & Watson​ will be released in UK cinemas on 26​th​ December 2018.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map. 

 

Trollied: The Wedding – Christmas Special (2018)

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Jason Watkins and his four other cast members wearing shirts seen running and struggling through Dublin Ferry Port barriers on a cobbled street.

Gavin (Jason Watkins) and his friends at ‘Dublin Ferry Port’ (Port of Dover) ©TVWise

 

Writer: Paul Doolan
Director: Paul Murphy
Starring: Jason Watkins, Sarah Parish, Stephen Tompkinson, Hugh Dennis
Production Company: Roughcut TV
Kent Location Used: Port of Dover- Cruise Terminal

Deciding to leave the Valcro store and make a fresh start in Calais, Gavin (Jason Watkins) and Cheryl (Sarah Parish) plan to get married. When Gavin’s stag-do goes awry, he and his friends face a race against time to get him back for the wedding.

The Wedding episode of Trollied was written by Paul Doolan (Mongrels (5 episodes)/Hospital People (2 episodes)) and directed by Paul Murphy (Casualty/Grange Hill). The season and show’s finale starred Jason Watkins (Being Human/Love, Nina), Sarah Parish (W1A/Bancroft), Stephen Tompkinson (Truckers/DCI Banks) and Hugh Dennis (Not Going Out/Outnumbered), plus many more of the Trollied regulars.

The Cruise Terminal at the Port of Dover was used as the location for the Dublin and Holyhead Ferry Ports in scenes which sees Gavin (Jason Watkins) and his friends panic they are going to miss the wedding.

The Port of Dover in Kent is the closest point between England and France and the busiest ferry port in Europe. It gets a lot of interest from location managers for the service it provides and the views that come along with it. Other shows that filmed on location at the port include The Tunnel (2013), Missing (2009-2010), and film Albert’s Memorial (2009).

The episode was first aired in the UK on the 23rd December 2018 on Sky One.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map. 

The Lost Commando Raid (2018)

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Image of a dark tunnel with The Lost Commando Raid text over the top in bright yellow.

The Lost Commando Raid ©BBC South East

 

Starring: Toby Jones, Phil Eyden

Production Company: BBC South East

Kent Locations Used:  Dover

BBC documentary film The Lost Commando Raid was inspired by Phil Eyden’s book, Dover’s Forgotten Commando Raid, and tells the story of Operation Abercrombie, a WWII raid led by Lord Lovatt on the French Town of Hardelot in 1942.

Narrating is BAFTA winning actor Toby Jones (Dr Who, Captain America, The Detectorists), as amateur historian Phil Eyden discovers mysterious graffiti in a supposedly abandoned fort in Dover that leads him to the story of a long-forgotten commando mission. The documentary includes interviews with Phil Eyden, as well as some of the relatives  of the commando’s taking part.

Production filmed in and around Dover at various locations, including the Drop Redoubt and the Grand Shaft at Western Heights, St Margaret’s at Cliffe, as well as at Discovery Park, where production filmed historian Phil Eyden using a microfilm reader and talking about Dover’s role in WWII.

Dover is the site of the famous White Cliffs of Dover and has been used in various productions such as Britain’s Favourite Walks: Top 100 (2018), Secret Britain (2016) and Great British Railway Journeys – Series 7 (2016).

The Lost Commando Raid will air on Friday 14th December 2018 at 7.30pm on BBC South East.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map. 

 

 

 

River Walks (2018)

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Presenter JB Gill pictured weaiting a brown jumper and jacket in the countryside with greenery behind him as he walks along the river

JB Gill Presenting on River Walks ©BBC

 

Presenter: JB Gill

Production Company:

Kent Locations Used: Godinton, Canterbury, Pegwell Bay

River Walks, a new BBC series, will showcase eleven spectacular walking routes across England, broadcast parallel in the Regions. Each episode will reveal how the waterways have shaped the local landscape, history and culture, with celebrity guests suggesting routes for picturesque walks.

Presenting the Southeast episode will be JB Gill (Down on the Farm, Songs of Praise). Other famous faces to explore England’s scenic riverbanks include Rachel Johnson and her father Stanley Johnson (I’m A Celebrity… 2017), as well as broadcaster Stuart Maconie and actress Shobna Gulati (Coronation Street).

The series includes a walk along the Kentish Stour,  starting at its source in Godinton in the district of Ashford and following it through the historic city of Canterbury and ending at Pegwell Bay in Thanet.

Previous filming that has taken place across the Stour Valley includes Country File (2012) which filmed in Ashford, Britain’s Great Cathedrals with Tony Robinson (2018) in Canterbury, and Fantasy Homes By the Sea (2018) in Thanet.

River Walks starts on BBC One South East Channel on Monday 10th December at 7:30pm.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map. 

 

Tulip Fever (2018)

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Fever poster- A women in a period dress stares out the window. The word Fever is written on top of the image.

Tulip Fever (C) Worldview Entertainment

Writer: Deborah Moggach (Novel), Sir Tom Stoppard

Director: Justin Chadwick

Starring: Alicia Vikander, Cara Delevingne, Jack O’Connell, Christoph Waltz, Dane DeHaan, Zach Galifianakis, Judi Dench, Holliday Grainger, Matthew Morrison

Kent Locations Used: Cobham Hall

Tulip Fever is a film adaptation of Deborah Moggach’s (Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) romantic novel of the same name, set during tulip mania in early 17th century Amsterdam. The story focuses on artist Jan Van Loos (Dane DeHaan) who falls in love with Sophia (Alicia Vikander), a married young woman when he is commissioned to paint her portrait.

The film is directed by Justin Chadwick (The Other Boleyn Girl, The First Grader) with Sir Tom Stoppard (Shakespeare in Love, Enigma) adapting the novel for the big screen.

The film stars a wealth of talent including Alicia Vikander (Ex Machina, The Danish Girl), Cara Delevingne (Anna Karenina, Paper towns, Pan), Jack O’Connell (Money Monster, Skins), Christoph Waltz (Spectre, Django Unchained) Dane DeHaan (Chronicle, Lawless), Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover, Birdman), Judi Dench (Skyfall, Philomena), Holliday Grainger (Cinderella, Jane Eyre) and Matthew Morrison (Glee, Music and Lyrics).

The production filmed in Kent at Cobham Hall between April and July of 2014 where they transformed a wing at the school into a 17th century Amsterdam Gracht. The production constructed the waterway from scratch, complete with barges and donkeys crossing humpback bridges. The school’s courtyard was also used as the brewery yard in the story.

Cobham Hall is a private boarding school near to Gravesend located in 150 acres of Grade II listed parkland. Inside is a stunning ball room, library, cobbled courtyards, formal gardens, classrooms as well as sports facilities, including a swimming pool. Cobham Hall is a popular filming location with productions such as Hetty Feather (2015-2020), The Great Fire (2014) and Wild Child (2008) having previously filmed here.

Tulip Fever also features in the Kent Film Office Tudor(ish) Trail which celebrates Kent’s Tudor history and film connections.

Tulip Fever is released in cinemas on Friday 7th December 2018.

Tulip Fever is available on DVD.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map. 

Fantasy Homes by the Sea – Series 7 (2018)

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Image of presenter Michelle Ackerley in an orange top leaning against colourful sheds

Presenter Michelle Ackerley ©UKTV Really

 

Writer: Jayne Hibbitt-Smith

Starring: Michelle Ackerley

Production company: Hat Trick

Kent locations used: Broadstairs, Margate, Ramsgate, Kingsdown, Dungeness

The series originally ran for six seasons between 2007 and 2013 on UKTV’s Style channel.

Michelle Ackerley presents the reboot of Fantasy Homes by the Sea. Each 60-minute episode follows Michelle as she takes buyers around coastal locations in the UK in the quest to find their dream home by the sea.

Production filmed in Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate , Kent sea-side towns in Thanet that recently featured in shows such as Britain’s Favourite Walks: Top 100 (2018) and Landscape Artist of the Year (2018).

Further filming took place at Kingsdown near Deal. The town is situated on the South Coast of Kent and has a longstanding naval history as one of the major Cinque Ports and many period features remain. Productions such as Coast v Country (2017) and Antiques Roadshow (2015) also chose this as a prime film location.

Production also visited Dungeness. Dungeness is a unique location which includes ramshackle huts as well as two lighthouses, a historic railway station, two pubs and artist galleries along with a nuclear power station. Previous projects that have filmed there include Walks With My Dog (2017) and Great British Railway Journeys – Series 7 (2016).

Fantasy Homes by the Sea airs on 19th November 2018 on UKTV’s Really Channel (Freeview Channel 17, Sky Channel 142, and Virgin Media Channel 129) at 8pm. The Thanet episodes will air on 22nd November and 6th December, and the Kingsdown episode will air on 11th December 2018 on Really at 8pm.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map. 

Danny Boyle: Pages of the Sea this Remembrance Sunday 2018

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Director Danny Boyle's programme poster for Pages of the Sea- image of soldier in the sand with the sea washing up against it.

Danny Boyle: Pages of the Sea ©14-18 NOW

On 11 November 2018, communities will gather on beaches across the UK to say thank you and goodbye to the millions of men and women who left our shores during WWI. In Pages of the Sea, film-maker Danny Boyle invites you to join him in marking the 100 years anniversary of Armistice and the end of the war.

Director of the London Olympics Opening Ceremony, Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire 2008, Shallow Grave 1994) announced his new project from the Sunny Sands in Folkestone, where approximately 10 million men and women departed during the First World War, many never to return. The event will take place between dawn and 10.45am on November 11th 2018 and the public are invited to gather on beaches across the UK for an informal nationwide gesture of remembrance.

Speaking to Kent Online, Danny Boyle said, “You can stand here on the beach in Folkestone and imagine what they were all feeling and imagining as they were getting ready to leave and thinking about what they were facing.”

Image of Danny Boyle smiling at the camera in a white shirt on Sunny Sands beach in Folkestone, sea and path can be seen in background

Filmmaker Danny Boyle © 14-18 NOW

Various events will be taking place on the beach. A portrait of Wilfred Owen will emerge from the sands, and as the tide rises, it will be washed away, and a moment will be taken to say a collective goodbye.  Carol Ann Duffy has written a poem especially for the moment – The Wound in Time.  The public is also invited to explore an online gallery of portraits of some of the men and women who served in the First World War.

The event will be filmed live on Sunday 11th November at 10.45am.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map. 

Celebrity Antiques Road Show – Series 8 (2018)

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Cast of Celebrity Antiques Road Show - Series 8- Four celebritites standing in a row holding up various antiques.

Cast of Celebrity Antiques Road Show – Series 8 ©BBC Two

 

Starring: Kelly Brook, Denise Van Outen and Peter Andre

Production Company: STV productions

Kent Locations Used: Ramsgate, Margate, Whitstable, Faversham, Sittingbourne, Maidstone, and Ashford

A brand-new series of Celebrity Antiques Road Show returns to BBC two.  In the programme each antique expert is paired up with a celebrity and they travel across the UK in vintage cars, in a quest to find worthy antiques to sell at auction.

The series producer for the upcoming show is John Redshaw, and the chosen stars for series 8 include reality-star Peter Andre, actress Denise Van Outen and model Kelly Brook.

One of the episodes visited Kent where the celebrities played mini-golf in Margate, went antiques hunting in  the sea-side town of Ramsgate and paid a visit to Leeds Castle and Pleasant View Garden Centre in Maidstone, and Whitstable Harbour in Canterbury.

Filming also took place in Faversham and Sittingbourne, which are towns in the district of Swale, as well as further filming in villages Appledore and Chilham in Ashford.

Ramsgate, Margate and Whitstable are seaside towns in East-Kent.  Ramsgate has been a significant filming location for popular television shows such as Juliet, Naked(2018), EastEnders (2015) and The Apprentice (2015).

Faversham and Sittingbourne are both towns within the Swale borough of Kent. Previous productions which filmed there include Celebs on the Farm (20018) and Walks With My Dog (2017). 

Ashford is a market town with many shops, eateries, and a designer outlet shopping centre with London and Europe are just a train ride away through Ashford International train station. Previous productions which filmed include The Apprentice (2015).

Maidstone has been a popular site for TV programmes, productions include Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace (2020). Tunbridge Wells has also been an attractive location for TV programmes like Question Time (2016) and series two of Hunted (2016).

The series will start on Monday 5th November on BBC Two at 7pm with the Kent episode.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.