Author: Kent Film Office

Kate & Koji (2020-2022)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Koji sits at a table in a dated looking café. He holds a white mug and has a full English breakfast in front of him. Kate stands behind him, wearing a green apron and smiling at the camera.

Brenda Blethyn as Kate and Okorie Chukwu as Koji in Kate and Koji (2020-2022) © Hat Trick Productions

Writers: Andy Hamilton, Guy Jenkin
Director: Ben Kellett
Starring: Brenda Blethyn, Jimmy Akingbola (Series 1), Okorie Chukwu (Series 2), Blake Harrison, Barbara Flynn, Meera Syal
Production Company: Hat Trick Productions, ITV Studios
Kent Locations Used: Romney House, School Road, Charing, Herne Bay Beach, Pier & Promenade

Kate & Koji (2020-2022) is a six-part TV sitcom about a working-class woman played by Brenda Blethyn (Vera, Pride & Prejudice (2005)) who runs an old-fashioned café in a neglected seaside town. Kate develops an unexpected and spirited friendship with Koji, an asylum-seeking African doctor (Jimmy Akingbola – Series 1 (In the Long Run (2019), Bel-Air); Okorie Chukwu – Series 2 (The Complex: Lockdown (2020)). Although from very different worlds, they are similar in ways which they do not recognise, including a dogged determination to never back down!

Kate’s resourceful nephew ‘Medium’ played by Blake Harrison (The Inbetweeners (2010), Big Bad World (2013)) is often on hand to act as peacemaker. Barbara Flynn (The Durrells, Cracker) also stars as Kate’s lifelong nemesis Councillor Bone, and in Series 1, Meera Syal (Back to Life (2019-2021), The Split (2020)) guest stars as an adversarial GP to Koji.

The series is directed by Ben Kellett and written by Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin. It is a Hat Trick Production for ITV Studios filmed on location in Kent and at Elstree Studios in front of a live audience.

The seaside café for the TV sitcom was filmed at Frasiers Pie and Mash Shop in Herne Bay, standing in for the fictional seaside town of Seagate. For Series 1, the production also filmed exteriors of The Divers Arms pub and various scenes around the Promenade and Pier and an exterior scene at Herne Bay Industrial Estate. A further sequence was shot on the Promenade featuring a storm and its after-effects.

Series Two returned to Herne Bay for exterior filming and once again filmed along the Pier and Promenade, as well as the Neptune Arm and the Bandstand, which doubled as the exterior to a Community Centre.

A damaged road sign saying ‘Seagate’ on the side of a coastal road with the sea in background.

Herne Bay stands in for the fictional seaside town of Seagate © Hat Trick Productions

Herne Bay is a seaside town which has a Pier and shingle beach and is set just outside of the historic City of Canterbury. Recent productions to film in the area include Blue Planet UK – Series 1 (2019), The 1900 Island – Series 1 (2019) and Coast vs Country (2016).

Series 2 of Kate and Koji began airing on ITV on Wednesday 16th March 2022 at 9PM.

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

Our House (2022)

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Tuppence Middleton as Fiona, Martin Compston as Bram and Rupert Penry-Jones as Toby stand outside the front door of a house. Fiona stands with her arms folded, looking defiantly forward, whilst Bram and Toby stand behind her looking off to the side. The image is cracked in the centre like a pane of glass.

Our House (2022) © Red Planet Productions /ITV

Writer: Simon Ashdown, Louise Candlish
Director: Sheree Folkson
Starring: Tuppence Middleton, Martin Compston, Rupert Penry-Jones, Weruche Opia
Production Company: Red Planet Pictures
Kent Locations Used: Shellness beach in Leysdown-on-Sea

Based on Louise Candlish’s novel of the same name, Our House (2022) follows Fiona Lawson, a woman whose home is taken over by strangers, all her possessions missing, and her husband Bram nowhere to be found. Told through a series of flashbacks, the couple’s unexpected secrets are slowly brought to light, culminating in a nail-biting finale.

The four-part drama was adapted for the screen by Simon Ashdown (EastEnders (2007-2023), Come Fly with Me), and is directed by Sheree Folkson (Bridgerton (2020), Call the Midwife (2012-2024)). The series stars Tuppence Middleton (The Current War (2019), The Imitation Game) as Fiona Lawson, Martin Compston (Mary Queen of Scots (2019), Line of Duty) as her estranged husband Bram, Rupert Penry-Jones (Spooks, Whitechapel) as the enigmatic Toby, and Weruche Opia (I May Destroy You, Bad Education) as Fiona’s best friend and neighbour Merle.

Shellness beach in Leysdown-on-Sea, as well as a private beach house nearby, feature in Episode 3 during a family holiday flashback sequence.

Leysdown is situated at the Eastern end of the Isle of Sheppey. With access to a sandy beach and a slew of arcades it is one of the largest holiday parks in Kent. Previous productions to have filmed there include The End of the F***ing World (2017) who shot in Leysdown town for Series One, and Kiss Me First (2018), which features Leysdown promenade.

Our House began airing on ITV on Monday 7th March at 9pm.

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

Killing Eve Series 1 & 4 (2018-2022)

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Sandra Oh as Eve Polastri and Jodie Comer as Villanelle. The two stand among bushes, framed by lit white candles. Eve wears an off-the-shoulder navy blue dress and Villanelle wears a long-sleeve white flowy dress.

Killing Eve (2022) © BBC America

Writer: Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Emerald Fennell, Laura Neal
Starring: Sandra Oh, Jodie Comer, Fiona Shaw, Kim Bodnia
Production Company: Sid Gentle Films for (BBC America)
Kent Locations Used: Nells Café in Gravesend, Margate Beach, Margate Harbour Arm, Dreamland, Nayland Rock Hotel, the Lido Complex, Sands Café and various streets in Margate.

Killing Eve (2018 – 2022) is an intense spy thriller, based on the Codename Villanelle novellas by Luke Jennings, in which MI6 intelligence investigator Eve (Sandra Oh) and psychopathic assassin Villanelle (Jodie Comer) go head to head in a game of cat and mouse.

Killing Eve is back again for its fourth and final series with screenwriter Laura Neal (Sex Education (2021)) joining the team. Series 4 picks up with titular character Eve Polastri on the run from shadowy crime organisation The Twelve.

Written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag, No Time to Die), Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman, Saltburn), and Laura Neal (Sex Education (2021), My Mad Fat Diary), stars Jodie Comer (Doctor Foster, Free Guy) as Villanelle, the fearsome female assassin, Sandra Oh (Grey’s Anatomy, Sideways) as Eve Polastri, the MI6 agent hunting her down, Fiona Shaw (The Avengers, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone) as Carolyn Martens, head of MI6’s Russia division and Kim Bodnia (Pusher, The Bridge) as Konstantin, Villanelle’s handler.

For the opening scene of Series 1, Episode 5, production visited the M2 motorway in Medway and Nell’s Café, a popular roadside truck stop off the A2 near Gravesend. In the scene, Eve (Sandra Oh) and Elena (Kirby Howell-Baptiste) question Frank (Darren Boyd) about his connections to Villanelle and the criminal organisation she works for.

Gravesend is situated on the southern bank of the River Thames and boasts a cast iron pier, promenade and high street as well as international rail links at the nearby Ebbsfleet International station. The Gravesend area has previously welcomed film productions such as The Escape (2018), Bull (2021), and the popular Netflix anthology series Black Mirror (2019), which used several locations across Gravesend for the hostage sequences in Series 5, Smithereens. BBC’s crime drama The Interceptor (2015) also filmed at Nell’s Café.

In 2021, production visited various locations across Margate for Episodes 4 to 7 of Series 4, including local attractions and businesses Dreamland, the Lido Complex, The Nayland Rock Hotel and Market Square. Filming also took place on the sea defence steps of Margate Beach, Margate Harbour Arm, the Nayland Rock Shelter, Sands Café and Newgate Lower Promenade.

Street filming featured some of the many different aspects of Margate, maximising the town’s rich architectural history from the Edwardian Nayland Rock Shelter, the Georgian Royal Crescent Promenade to the quirky, modern vibe of Market Street, Duke Street and Broad Street with their narrow streets and boutique shops. In contrast, All Saints Avenue gives a city feel, running alongside Arlington House with its brutalist architecture. Recent productions to film in Margate include Whitstable Pearl (2021-2022), Pandemonium (2020) and Netflix’s crime drama Top Boy (2019-2022).

Considered to be the oldest surviving amusement park in Great Britain, Dreamland dates back to the early 1870s and was revamped in 2017. The Park has a Retro Roller Room, vintage arcades, a fully restored Grade II listed Art Deco Ballroom and beautiful rides dating from 1920 to present day. Dreamland has previously welcomed productions including Two Weeks to Live (2020), Jellyfish (2018), and the Only Fools and Horses 1989 Christmas Special The Jolly Boys’ Outing.

Built in 1885, the Nayland Rock Hotel is situated on Margate beach, with stunning panoramic views of the English Channel, and only a walking distance away from Margate’s top attractions. Joe Penhall’s King of Thieves (2018) starring Michael Cain and Michael Gambon features the Hotel in a scene where the aforementioned actors have lunch together.

Killing Eve first aired on BBC One on Saturday 15th September 2018, and Series 1-4 are available to stream on iPlayer.

Series 4 of Killing Eve was made available on BBC iPlayer on Monday 28th February 2022.

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

Jhimma (2021)

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Seven women and one man lie in a circle on a patch of AstroTurf. Three of the women wear traditional Indian dress, whilst the other four women and the man wear modern Western clothing. They are all smiling at the camera.

Jhimma (2022) © AVK Entertainment

Director: Hemant Dhome
Starring: Sonalee Kulkarni, Suhas Joshi, Kshitee Jog, Nirmiti Sawant, Sayali Sanjeev, Mrinmayee Godbole, Suchitra Bandekar
Production Company: AVK Entertainment
Kent Locations Used: Botany Bay

Jhimma (2021) follows the stories of seven women from different age groups and socio-economic backgrounds, who take a life-changing trip to Great Britain. As the journey unfolds, the women are granted the opportunity to heal old wounds, face their demons, discover themselves, and fall in love.

Directed by Hemant Dhome (Baghtos Kay Mujra Kar, Ye Re Ye Paisa 2), Jhimma (2021) stars Sonalee Kulkarni (Classmates, Mitwaa) as Maithili, Suhas Joshi (Josh, Aazmayish) as Indumati, Kshitee Jog (Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyann, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai) as Meeta, Nirmiti Sawant (Bindhaast, Chal Dhar Pakad) as Nirmala, Sayali Sanjeev (Kahe Diya Pardes, Mann Fakiraa) as Kruttika, Mrinmayee Godbole (Padman, Crd) as Rama, and Suchitra Bandekar (Singham, Simmba) as Vaishali.

Production visited Botany Bay in Broadstairs to film a musical montage for the final song of the film and a beach scene where Vaishali (Suchitra Bandekar) and Maithili (Sonalee Kulkarni) enjoy a mother/daughter bonding and Indumati (Suhas Joshi) throws her diary into the sea. Botany Bay is a very popular filming location due to its sandy beach, rock pools, white cliffs and highly photographed white chalk stacks. Previous productions to have filmed at Botany Bay include Thaandavam (2012), Bhikari (2017), and Series 2 of the Channel 4 sci-fi show Humans (2016).

Jhimma was released in India on Friday 19th November 2021 and is currently available to stream in the UK on Amazon Prime Video.

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

Trigger Point – Series 1 (2022)

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Vicky McClure and Adrian Lester stand on a London street in front of a block of flats. They are both wearing bomb disposal uniforms, including a black bulletproof vest, black helmet with goggles on top and black fingerless gloves. They both look nervously off to the right-hand side of the screen.

Vicky McClure as Lana Washington and Adrian Lester as Joel Nutkins © ITV

Writer: Daniel Brierley
Starring: Vicky McClure, Adrian Lester, Warren Brown, Kerry Godliman, Mark Stanley
Production Company: HTM Productions
Kent Locations: Dartford Marshes, Joyce Green Lane

Set in contemporary London, Trigger Point (2022) depicts the dangerous lives of the members of a Bomb Disposal Squad known as Expo, led by veteran operative Lana Washington. When a series of improvised explosive devices begin to detonate across London, Lana suspects that Expo is the bomber’s true target.

The six-part series was written by Daniel Brierly and stars Vicky McClure (Line of Duty, This Is England) as leading lady Lana Washington, Adrian Lester (Hustle, Life) as her colleague Joel Nutkins, Warren Brown (Liar (2017-2020), Luther) as Karl Maguire, Kerry Godliman (Whitstable Pearl (2021-2022), Derek (2013)) as Sonya Reeves and Mark Stanley (Sulphur and White (2020), The Bay) as DI Thom Youngblood.

A section of the Dartford Marshes owned by the Dartford Clay Shooting Club is featured in Series 1 Episodes 3 and 4, when the unnamed bomber blows up a car and the police conduct a forensic examination. The nearby Joyce Green Lane features later in Episode 6 as the police drive on their blues and twos to MOD Steepholme.

Located on the border of Kent, Dartford is a historic market town and perhaps best known for the Dartford Crossing and Bluewater Shopping Centre. Its combination of industrial and historical landscapes makes for a popular filming location. The Dartford Marshes border the River Thames and mark the boundary between Kent and the London borough of Bexley. Previous productions to have shot on the marshes include the Sky crime-drama Gangs of London (2020-2022) and The Corrupted (2019).

Trigger Point began airing on ITV on Sunday 23rd January 2022 at 9pm.

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

The 355 (2022)

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Four women dressed in evening wear stand in front of a white stone building framed by two large light-up Chinese dragons. On the far left is Graciela, played by Penélope Cruz. Next to her is Mace, played by Jessica Chastain, then Marie played by Diane Kruger. Finally, on the far right stands Khadijah played by Lupita Nyong’o. All four women look nervously off to the left-hand side of the frame.

The 355 (2022) © Universal Studios

Director: Simon Kinberg
Writers: Simon Kinberg, Theresa Rebeck
Starring: Jessica Chastain, Lupita Nyong’o, , Diane Kruger, Penélope Cruz, Bingbing Fan
Production Company: Freckle Films, CAA Media Finance, FilmNation Entertainment
Locations Used: Fairbourne Reservoir in Harrietsham

The 355 (2022) is an American spy thriller about a CIA operative who joins forces with three international agents on a mission to recover a top-secret weapon that has fallen into the wrong hands.

Directed and written by Simon Kinberg (X-Men: Dark Phoenix, The Twilight Zone) and co-written by Theresa Rebeck (Law & Order: Criminal Intent, NYPD Blue), The 355 cast is headlined by Jessica Chastain (X-Men: Dark Phoenix,  Interstellar), Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave, Black Panther), Diane Kruger (Inglourious Basterds, The Operative), Penélope Cruz (Murder on the Orient Express, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides) and Bingbing Fan (Iron Man 3,  X-Men: Days of Future Past).

During filming, production visited Fairbourne Reservoir near Harrietsham in Maidstone. The property was dressed as Graciela’s (Penélope Cruz) Colombian home.

Fairbourne Reservoir is a modern mansion which has previously featured in two episodes of Netflix’s Black Mirror – Metalhead (2017) and Smithereens (2018). Harrietsham is a picturesque village in Maidstone and contains a number of listed buildings..

The 355 was released in UK cinemas on Friday 7th January 2022.

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

The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2022)

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Benedict Cumberbatch, as Louis Wain, stands on a pebble beach, wearing sunglasses and looking off into the distance with a row of colourful houses in the distance. Cumberbatch, dressed in white trousers, navy blazer and blue and white striped t-shirt stands to the left with three women sitting on wooden stools with wooden easels in front of them to the right of the frame.

Benedict Cumberbatch, Stacy Martin, Sharon Rooney and Aimee Lou Wood in The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2022) on Walmer Beach, Deal © StudioCanal

Writer: Will Sharpe, Simon Stephenson
Director: Will Sharpe
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Claire Foy, Andrea Riseborough, Aimee Lou Wood, Toby Jones
Production Company: Amazon Studios, Film4, Shoebox Films, StudioCanal, SunnyMarch
Kent Locations Used: Botany Bay, Kingsgate Bay, Deal, Walmer, Kingsdown Leas

The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2022) is a biopic of the English painter who rose to fame at the end of the 19th century. Known for his unique paintings of anthropomorphised cats, Wain suffered from poor mental health in his later years and was hospitalised when his family could no longer care for him.

Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange, Sherlock) stars as the titular character Louis Wain, with Claire Foy (The Crown (2016 – 2023), A Very British Scandal (2021)) portraying the love of his life, Emily. The film also features Andrea Riseborough (Luxor, The Grudge), Aimee Lou Wood (Sex Education (2021)), Toby Jones (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Christopher Robin) and Sharon Rooney (My Mad Fat Diary, The Tunnel: Vengeance (2017)). The film was written and directed by Will Sharpe (Defending the Guilty, Flowers) alongside writer Simon Stephenson (Eleventh Hour, Paddington 2).

Various scenes were shot on the Kent coast, including at Botany Bay and Kingsgate Bay in Thanet, Kingsdown Leas, Deal seafront and the Coast House B&B in Walmer, Deal.

Botany Bay in Thanet is a popular filming location in Kent. The sandy bay is set against a beautiful white cliff backdrop which is popular with tourists. Previous productions to have made use of this stunning location include Sulphur and White (2020) and Series 2 of Humans (2016).

Kingsgate Bay is a small sandy bay surrounded by chalk cliffs that connects at low tide through Whiteness cliff arch to Botany Bay. The Victorian Kingsgate Castle is perched on top of the sea defences; it has since been turned into private residences. Other productions to have filmed at Kingsgate Bay include True Things (2022), Mr Selfridge (2013-2016), and Bhikari (2017).

Deal is a town on the south coast of Kent with a long naval history as one of the major Cinque Ports. Deal’s seafront has a large green, promenade, small fishing fleet, huts, sailing boats, lifeboat station as well as an extensive pebble beach. Liar Series 1 & 2 (2017 – 2020) and Baptiste (2019) both recently filmed here.

The Electrical Life of Louis Wain was released in UK cinemas on Saturday 1st January 2022.

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

A Very British Scandal (2021)

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Claire Foy, as the Duchess of Argyll, stands in the centre of the frame looking directly at the camera. Behind her is a grey-brick building. On her left, right and at the bottom of the frame stand three photographers, pointing large old-fashioned cameras directly at her. Foy has dark brown slicked-back hair and blue eyes. She wears a purple blazer with matching hat and thin veil over her face, a grey fur coat held around her midriff, light grey gloves, a pearl necklace, bracelet and earrings, and a dark grey clutch bag. She also wears bright red lipstick.

Claire Foy in A Very British Scandal © BBC

Writer: Sarah Phelps
Director: Anne Sewitsky
Starring: Paul Bettany, Claire Foy, Jonathan Aris
Production Company: Amazon Studios, Blueprint Pictures
Kent Locations Used: Kent & East Sussex Railway

A Very British Scandal (2021) depicts the story of events surrounding the notorious divorce of the Duke and Duchess of Argyll during the 1960s.

Claire Foy (The Crown Series 1 – 6 (2016-2023), Wolf Hall (2015)) stars as Margaret, Duchess of Argyll while Paul Bettany (Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), WandaVision) stars as Ian Campbell, Duke of Argyll. The three part miniseries also features Jonathan Aris (Grantchester, The End of the F***ing World (2017)), was written by
Sarah Phelps (The Pale Horse, The White Princess) and directed by Anne Sewitsky (Monsterland, Black Mirror).

Production visited Tenterden’s Kent & East Sussex Railway to film the opening scene where Margaret and Ian Campbell meet for the first time on The Golden Arrow Boat Train from Paris.

The Kent & East Sussex Railway is a ten and a half mile rural railway from Tenterden to East Sussex. The Kent and East Sussex Railway has provided location services for a variety of film and television productions over the years including Richard E. Grant on Ealing Comedies (2016) and the opening shot of Downton Abbey (2010-2013) series one, episode one when a steam train travels through the countryside. A more recent production to film on the railway is Paul O’Grady Great British Escapes.

A Very British Scandal began airing on Sunday 26th December 2021 on BBC One and all episodes are available to watch on iPlayer.

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

The Amazing Mr Blunden (2021)

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Simon Callow, as Mr Blunden, stands in the centre of the frame. Either side of him, peering over some large decorative ornaments, are two children Jamie, played by Jason Rennie, on the left, and Lucy, played by Tsion Habte, on the right. They are inside of a historic looking room with dark orange walls. On either side are windows covered by lace net curtains, and large drawn open grey curtains. Jamie has short curly black hair and wears a black unzipped hoodie with a red t-shirt. Only Lucy’s head is visible, and she has long curly black hair. Mr Blunden has receding white hair and a full grey beard. He wears a long brown woollen coat, with a brown waistcoat underneath and a large red woollen scarf wrapped around his neck. All three characters look nervously off-screen.

The Amazing Mr Blunden © Sky

Writer: Mark Gatiss
Director: Mark Gatiss
Starring: Simon Callow, Tamsin Greig, Mark Gatiss, Tsion Habte, Jason Rennie, India Fowler, Xavier Wilkins
Production Company: Adorable Media
Kent Locations Used: Finchcocks

Based on the 1972 family film of the same name, The Amazing Mr Blunden (2021) tells the story of modern teenagers Lucy and Jamie, whose encounter with a mysterious old man called Mr Blunden leads to them becoming caretakers of an old country home. They soon discover that the home is haunted by the spirits of two young children, Sara and Georgie, and with the help of Mr Blunden, the two teens must travel back in time to save the children’s lives.

Written and directed by Mark Gatiss (Sherlock, Doctor Who), The Amazing Mr Blunden stars renowned actor Simon Callow (Four Weddings and a Funeral, A Room with a View (1985)) as Mr. Blunden, Tamsin Greig (Episodes, Friday Night Dinner) as Mrs. Wickens and Mark Gatiss as Mr. Wickens, as well as newcomers Tsion Habte (Liar (2017-2020), Sex Education (2021)) as Lucy, Jason Rennie as Jamie, India Fowler (Safe) as Sara and Xavier Wilkins as Georgie.

The production team visited Kent for their shoot, using Finchcocks in Goudhurst as Langley Park, the house the two teenagers are tasked with looking after. Built in 1725, Finchcocks is a fine early Georgian Manor set in 13 acres of parkland and gardens, with extensive views over the Kentish landscape. It is noted for its brickwork, with a dramatic baroque front elevation. For many years, the Manor played host to a Musical Museum, which housed around 115 period keyboard instruments, many of which have featured in TV and film themselves. Now operating as both a family home and a piano workshop retreat, Finchcocks has previously been used as the setting for a Pride and Prejudice sketch in the BBC show French and Saunders (1996).

The Amazing Mr Blunden aired on Sky and NowTV on Friday 24th December 2021.

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

’83 (2021)

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Ranveer Singh, as legendary Indian cricketer Kapil Dev, stands in the centre of the frame holding a cricket bat. He has one leg in the air and his body is turned slightly as if he has just swung the bat in his hands. Singh has curly black hair and a thick moustache. He wears a cricket kit, including tight white trousers, large white knee pads, large white cricket gloves with red dots over the fingers, and a white V-neck knitted jumper with blue, yellow and black stripes on the end of the sleeves, around the collar and around the trim. Behind him, blurred out, are a crowd of spectators watching on.

Ranveer Singh in ’83 © Reliance Entertainment

Director: Kabir Khan
Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Jiiva, Saqib Saleem
Production Company: Reliance Entertainment, Vibri Media, Kabir Khan Films, KA Productions, Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, Phantom Films
Kent Locations Used: The Historic Dockyard Chatham, Nevill Cricket Ground Tunbridge Wells

’83 (2021) from Reliance Entertainment and Vibri Media recalls the events of one of India’s most defining sporting moments when in 1983, Kapil Dev, portrayed by Ranveer Singh (Kill Dil, Gully Boy) captains the Indian cricket team to their first ever World Cup victory.

Directed by Kabir Khan (Ek Tha Tiger, Kabul Express), ’83 also features Deepika Padukone (Om Shanti Om, Chennai Express) as Dev’s wife Romi, Jiiva (Kee, Mugamoodi) as Srikkanth and Saqib Saleem (Race 3, Dil Junglee) as Amarnath.

The summer of 2019 saw production visit The Historic Dockyard in Chatham and The Nevill Cricket Ground in Tunbridge Wells. A scene depicting an altercation between two rivalling groups of cricket fans was filmed on Ropery Street at The Historic Dockyard, but we believe this did not make the final cut. Other Bollywood productions to have filmed here include Rustom (2016) and Pagalpanti (2019).

The Nevill Cricket Ground was used as itself, re-creating Kapil Dev’s famous score of 126 runs in a match against Zimbabwe on June 18th, 1983. To commemorate the historic sporting event, a plaque at the pavilion was unveiled by Kapil Dev, the film’s director Kabir Khan and actor Ranveer Singh.

From left to right, cricketer Kapil Dev, ’83 director Kabir Khan, and actor Ranveer Singh. The three pose for a photo in Nevill Cricket Ground. Dev has grey hair and a thick moustache, and wears a white button up shirt, blue suit trousers with a black belt, and black sunglasses which are hanging from his shirt. Khan has black hair and a short beard and wears a brown jacket with a navy-blue collar. Singh has black hair and a thick moustache and wears a white cricketer uniform, including a knitted white V-neck jumper.

Kapil Dev, Kabir Khan, and Ranveer Singh at Nevill Cricket Ground in Tunbridge Wells © Tunbridge Wells Cricket Club

The plaque at Nevill Cricket Ground in Tunbridge Wells which commemorates cricketer Kapil Dev’s performance at the 1983 Cricket World Cup. The plaque reads: ‘Kapil Dev and Royal Tunbridge Wells. To commemorate the historic innings of 175 by India’s Kapil Dev at the Cricket World Cup, here at the Nevill Ground, home of Tunbridge Wells Cricket Club, on June 18th, 1983. India went on to win the Cup. And more than a quarter of a century later, in Cricket World Cup year, to mark the filming on the same ground in July 2019, of a re-enactment of the innings which made Kapil a legend, as part of the Indian Sports’ drama film entitled ’83’, directed by Kabir Khan with Ranveer Singh playing the part of Kapil Dev.’

Plaque commemorating Kapil Dev at Nevill Cricket Ground, Tunbridge Wells © Tunbridge Wells Cricket Club

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tunbridge Wells, situated in Western Kent, was a fashionable spa resort in the mid-1700s, maintaining much of the stylish Georgian architecture including an entire period shopping street called The Pantiles. Recent productions to film in the area include Queens of Mystery (2020-2021) and The Royals (2016-2018).

Set on the River Medway The Historic Dockyard Chatham was once an active Royal Navy shipyard and is one of the most popular Kent filming locations, recent productions to film at the Dockyard include The Nevers (2021), Bridgerton (2020) and The Crown Series 1 – 6 (2016-2023).

’83 was released in UK cinemas on Thursday 23rd December 2021.

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