Writer: Aisling Bea Director: Alex Winckler Starring: Aisling Bea, Sharon Horgan, Tobias Menzies Production Company: Merman Kent Locations Used: Tunbridge Wells
This Way Up (2021) is a TV comedy that follows Aine (Aisling Bea (Quiz, Living with Yourself)), as she recovers from a teeny little nervous breakdown. Sisters Aine and Shona (Sharon Horgan (Catastrophe, Women on the Verge)) share an unshakeable bond and Aisling Bea, who is the show’s creator, describes their relationship as “passionate, caring, often-angry, always-hilarious. In the darkest moments, when faced with overwhelming loneliness and sadness, the two sisters will always save each other and bring each other back into the light.” Series 2 follows Aine as she is starting to leave her time in rehab behind and live less cautiously, which may not be entirely wise.
During filming, production visited Tunbridge Wells where they filmed in a private house in Speldhurst for several days as the location of Shona’s house.
Tunbridge Wells is in West Kent and is officially known as Royal Tunbridge Wells due to King Edward VII commemorating the town owing to his mother Queen Victoria’s love for the area. It is home to a host of historic buildings, specialist shops and a busy town centre. Previous productions to have filmed there include Rupert, Rupert and Rupert (2019) and Catastrophe (2018).
Series 2 of This Way Up will air on Channel 4 from Wednesday 14th July 2021.
Writer: Nick Bain Director: Karthik Subbaraj Starring: James Cosmo, Dhanush, Aishwarya Lekshmi Production Company: Reliance Entertainment Kent Locations Used: Faversham, Chillenden Windmill, Herne Bay, Knowlton Court, Ramsgate
Jagame Thandhiram (2021) is a Tamil action thriller about an Indian gangster who is hired by a UK gang to take down their competition. When he betrays their trust, however, the gang seeks revenge.
The production filmed several day and night scenes in the centre of Faversham where they converted various shops, set up a street market and staged a large dance sequence. Production also filmed at Iron Wharf in Faversham, which doubles as a boatyard for a scene where the two rival gangs fight and Suruli kills Rajan (Muthukumar). The exterior of St Mary of Charity church in Faversham is where Suruli tells Attila that he loves her.
Driving scenes were staged around Chillenden Windmill near Canterbury, including a snowy scene on Goodnestone Road where Suruli’s gang kill the opposing gang members and capture John (Roman Fiori).
Herne Bay Pier, Neptune Arm and the Promenade provided the location for a wedding scene, and The King’s Hall doubles as the bar where the two rival gangs have their first battle and Sivadoss’ (Joju George) gang is slain.
Filming also took place at Knowlton Court country estate near Canterbury in both the house and on estate lands., which doubles in the film for Peter Sprott’s manor house. The Church at Knowlton Court features in a funeral dance scene.
Ramsgate also features in the film. A house on Belle Alliance Square doubles as Attila’s house which Peter’s gang shoot at in order to bribe Suruli to go to Birmingham to carry out a job. The Port of Ramsgate doubles as a Marina where Peter’s gang plan a raid, and the opening scene of the film features a refugee boat being captured in the English Channel, which was filmed just off the coast.
Faversham is a beautiful historic market town in the Swale Borough of Kent. The historic town boasts over 500 listed buildings. Previous productions in the town include Bollywood film Pagalpanti (2019) and Walks With My Dog (2017).
Chillenden Windmill is a Grade ll listed building and distinctive local landmark, standing on an exposed site at Goodnestone, Dover. The windmill is on high open ground with fine views to Knowlton Court to the east and Ramsgate to the north. It is also situated on a circular walk taking in Chillenden, Rowling and Goodnestone.
Knowlton Court is a much-loved family home within a stunning and extensive country estate of over 1,900 acres nestled in the heart of Kent. Described as a ‘timeless work of Tudor history’, Knowlton was built in 1585 and has sweeping tree-lined driveway and seven holiday cottages. The Tunnel: Sabotage (2016) filmed here and the main hall is now available for weddings and events.
Ramsgate, located in the district of Thanet, is a thriving seaside town with beautiful Georgian terraced housing, Marina, Port and Promenade. Previous TV productions which filmed here include Baptiste (2019) and The Tunnel: Vengeance (2017).
Jagame Thandhiramwill be released on Netflix on Friday 18th June 2021.
Director: Aleem Khan Starring: Joanna Scanlan, Nasser Memarzia, Nathalie Richard Production Company: The Bureau Kent Locations Used: The White Cliffs of Dover, Kingsdown, Port of Dover
The film also stars Nathalie Richard (Never Let Me Go, Caché) and focuses on the beauty of cultural differences and the effects of physical distance on people’s relationships.
Production visited The White Cliffs of Dover whilst filming, as well as a private residence in Kingsdown, near Dover which doubles as Mary’s home. One scene was filmed showing Mary boarding a ferry at the Port of Dover, as she travels to the Continent.
Writer: Chris Addison, Simon Blackwell, Martin Freeman Director: Chris Addison, Ben Palmer Starring: Martin Freeman, Daisy Haggard, Alun Armstrong, Joanna Bacon, Patrick Baladi, Stella Gonet Production Company: Avalon Television, Sky Kent Locations Used: Broadstairs
Broadstairs in East Kent is a picturesque coastal town with several beautiful beaches, restaurants, bars and walking trails which provide visitors with a real Kentish seaside town experience.
Victoria Parade provides visitors with a leisurely walk alongside Victoria Gardens and has stunning clifftop views of Viking Bay and Louisa Bay which have been featured in other shows, including Edge of Heaven (2014) and Derek (2013).
Creator and Director: Joss Whedon Writer: Joss Whedon, Melissa Iqbal, Kevin Lau, Madhuri Shekar, Jane Espenson Starring: Laura Donnelly, Olivia Williams, Ben Chaplin, Eleanor Tomlinson, James Norton, Pip Torrens, James Norton, Nick Frost, Denis O’Hare Production Company: HBO Kent Locations Used: The Historic Dockyard Chatham, Fort Amherst
This 12-part, direct to TV series is an epic science fiction drama about a gang of Victorian women who find themselves with unusual abilities, relentless enemies and a mission that might change the world.
In 2019, production visited The Historic Dockyard Chatham, making use of multiple areas at the location as London doubles for Victorian streets including the Ropery exterior, Anchor Wharf, Stables and Officers’ Terrace. In Episode One a stunt scene filmed on Ropery Street appears with masked horsemen chasing the protagonists Amalia True, Penance Adair (Ann Skelly) and Myrtle Haplisch (Viola Prettejohn). The rear of the Ropery building also stands in as a theatre stage door entrance. The Stables houses stand in for Dr Horatio’s (Zackary Momoh) home and Officer’s Terrace stands in for the London street where Maladie (Amy Manson) is led away to an “asylum for the psychologically deranged”. The Historic Dockyard Chatham also provided a unit base for cast and crew during filming at Fort Amherst. Production also filmed at Fort Amherst to depict colonial scenes for the second part of the series, which unfortunately never aired.
The first half of The Nevers (2021) was made available to stream on NOWTV on Monday 17th May 2021. Unfortunately, the series was axed before the second half was released.
Writers: Steve Coogan, Neil Gibbons, Rob Gibbons Directors: Neil Gibbons, Rob Gibbons Starring: Steve Coogan, Susannah Fielding, Felicity Montagu Production Company: BBC / Baby Cow Productions Kent Locations Used: Aylesford priory, Blue Bell Hill Country Park, Maidstone Studios,
This Time with Alan Partridge (2021) starring Steve Coogan (The Wind in the Willows (1996), Stan & Ollie) returns to BBC One with a second series of the BBC evening magazine show ‘This Time’ where he is now established as the show’s co-presenter. This Time with Alan Partridge follows Alan on air and off as he tries to cling on to his position in the face of behind-the-scenes upheaval and his fears that his relevance is dwindling.
During filming, production visited Maidstone Studios, which doubled for the BBC studios, Blue Bell Hill Country Park and Aylesford Priory. Filming also took place at private residences, a nursery and on local roads around Blue Bell Hill and in the county town of Maidstone.
Aylesford Priory situated at The Friars is an ancient religious house of the Carmelite Friars dating back to the 13th Century. The Friars is a place of peace where visitors can enjoy walks around the breathtaking grounds and stunning medieval buildings or visit the pottery to see local artisans at work. Bollywood film Rustom (2016) was partly filmed at Aylesford Priory.
Blue Bell Hill Country Park is located on the North Downs Way near Aylesford with uninterrupted views across the Weald valley. The five-hectare site is part of a Nature Reserve with the Kent Wildlife Trust.
This Time with Alan Partridge Series 2 begins on BBC One on Friday 30th April 2021 at 9:30pm and is available for catch up on iPlayer.
Writer: Clara Salaman Director: Bruce Goodison Starring: Emily Watson, Denise Gough, Eileen Davies Production Company: Snowed-In Productions Ltd, All3Media for ITV Kent Locations Used: Kingsferry Bridge – Isle of Sheppey, Swale
Too Close (2021) is a psychological drama for ITV starring Emily Watson. The three-part mini‑series tells the story of a forensic psychiatrist who must assess a criminal suspect – only to fall victim to their manipulative nature.
Dedicated forensic psychiatrist, Dr Emma Robinson played by Emily Watson (The Third Day (2020), Chernobyl) is sent to assess Connie Mortensen played by Denise Gough (Juliet, Naked (2018), Guerrilla) who is on trial for a terrible crime. When Connie quickly gains insight into Emma’s deepest insecurities and starts to brutally exploit them, their sessions become a complex psychological game. Eileen Davies (Grantchester (2014), Peterloo (2018)) also stars as Julia de Cadenet.
Too Close is based on the book of the same name, written by Clara Salaman under the pseudonym Natalie Daniels, and is directed by Susan Tully (Lark Rise to Candleford, Line of Duty) for Snowed-In Productions for All3Media.
During filming, production visited Kent to film a stunt sequence on Kingsferry Bridge, a combined road and railway bridge that links the Isle of Sheppey to mainland towns Sittingbourne and Kemsley. The maximum bridge lifting height is 84 feet and when reached a claxon sound is heard to confirm the bridge is at full height. The Kingsferry Bridge is no longer as busy as it once was, traffic now able to use the New Sheppey Crossing Bridge. Previous productions to film on the bridge include Kiss Me First (2018).
Too Close is due for release on ITV on Monday 12th April at 9pm.
Writer: Francis Lee Director: Francis Lee Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Kate Winslet, Fiona Shaw, Gemma Jones. Production Company: See-Saw Films, British Film Institute, BBC Films Kent Locations Used: Romney House, School Road, Charing, The Historic Dockyard Chatham
Ammonite (2020) is a film loosely based on the life of the acclaimed English fossil hunter Mary Anning (Kate Winslet) in 1840s England. Widely known for her contribution to prehistoric geology, she made ground-breaking Jurassic period discoveries as she spent time investigating the cliffs at Lyme Regis and Charmouth in Dorset. Whilst the film addresses Anning’s professional life, it also explores her private affairs and her struggles to make ends meet.
A couple of scenes for the film were shot in Kent. Romney House, a grade II listed building in Charing, was used to stand in for a Lyme Regis property belonging to Dr. Lieberson (Alec Secareanu) where Mary and Charlotte attend an evening party. A further scene was filmed at The Historic Dockyard Chatham, in which Mary Anning alights a boat just arrived to London Docks from Lyme Regis.
Charing is a quaint, traditional and beautiful village in the Ashford district of Kent and is situated on the historic Pilgrim’s way that stretches from London to Canterbury. The high street has many old whitewashed buildings comprised of brick and tile, some also exhibiting exposed timber frames. It is also home to the famous building the Archbishop’s Palace, a large manor house historically belonging to the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The Historic Dockyard Chatham was established in the mid-16th century and is located on the River Medway. A location with an extensive history, evident through its numerous buildings and exhibitions open to the public. The site offers maritime, industrial, Georgian and Victorian architecture and cobbled streets, an ideal set for many film productions. Recent feature films that have shot dockside scenes at the Dockyard include Red Joan (2019) and The Mercy (2018).
Ammonite is scheduled for release on Amazon Prime Box Office on Friday 26th March 2021.
Creator / Writer: Bruno Heller Directors: Danny Cannon, Rob Bailey, Bill Eagles, Jon East, Clare Kilner, China Moo-Young Starring: Jack Bannon, Ben Aldridge, Hainsley Lloyd Bennett, Paloma Faith Production Company: Warner Bros Kent Locations Used: The Historic Dockyard Chatham
Pennyworth (2019-2021) tells the origin story of Alfred Pennyworth a former special‑forces soldier living in London in the 1960s and how he came to work for Bruce Wayne’s father, Thomas Wayne.
During Series One production visited The Historic Chatham Dockyard for filming where exterior scenes were shot around the Ropery, including a chase scene on the roof, Old Pay Office, Admiral’s Office and Anchor Wharf to stand in as 1960s London.
During Series Two production visited former MOD site Lodge Hill in Rochester, Medway to shoot some scenes.
The Historic Chatham Dockyard is a historic tourist attraction on the site of a former Royal Naval Dockyard and has been the location for several recent productions set in the 1950s and 1960s including Call the Midwife (2012-2024) and The Crown (2016-2023). Lodge Hill in Rochester is a huge former MOD site of around 350 hectares offering numerous large warehouses, hard standing for set builds, two lakes, a helicopter landing area and miles of country roads and dirt tracks for driving sequences.
Pennyworth Series One was released on Starzplay on 25th October 2019.
Series Two was released on Sunday 28th February 2021.
Writer: Chris Lang Director: Andy Wilson Starring: Nicola Walker, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Sheila Hancock, Susan Lynch, Phaldut Sharma, Liz White, Andy Nyman, Clare Calbraith, Lucy Speed Production company: Mainstreet Pictures Kent Locations Used: Rochester City, Rochester Cathedral, Medway Rowing Club, Strood
Unforgotten (2021) is a murder mystery series set in London, that follows two detectives, DCI Cassie Stuart (Nicola Walker) and DI Sunny Khan (Sanjeev Bhaskar) as they investigate and attempt to unravel unsolved crimes. Series 4 kicks off with the discovery of a thirty-year-old corpse, the perfect cold case for the detectives to solve.
The production also visited neighbouring Strood, across the River Medway, a popular location for those who enjoy water sports, fishing or even a boat trip along the river.
Series 4 of Unforgotten aired on ITV on Monday 22nd February 2021.
