Abi Morgan

The Split – Series 2 (2020)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Hannah (Nicola Walker), Nathan (Stephen Mangan) and Christie (Barry Atsma) walking across Millennium Bridge, with London views behind them. The Split written in white.

Nathan (Stephen Mangan), Hannah (Nicola Walker), Christie (Barry Atsma) © BBC / Sister Pictures / Alex Telfer

Writers: Abi Morgan
Director: Jessica Hobbs
Starring: Nicola Walker, Stephen Mangan, Ben Bailey Smith, Barry Atsma, Donna Air
Production Company: Sister Pictures for the BBC
Kent Locations Used: Maidstone TV Studios

The Split (2018-2022) is a TV series about the Defoes, a family of female divorce lawyers forced to face their past following the return of their estranged father after a 30 year absence. In series two, the Defoes are back at newly merged law firm Noble Hale Defoe, and instead of being rivals, now find themselves on the same side of the table

Created by Abi Morgan (Suffragette) and directed by Jessica Hobbs (The Crown (2016-2020)), The Split is now in its second series and is produced by Sister Pictures with Nicola Walker (Spooks) playing the lead as Hannah Stern, eldest of the three Defoe sisters.

During filming production visited Maidstone TV Studios to film a studio show segment as Hannah Stern’s decides to represent Fi Hansen’s (Donna Air (The Counsellor), one half of the UK’s most powerful celebrity couples who seeks a divorce from her controlling husband Richie Hansen (Ben Bailey Smith (Drunk History: UK)).

Richie Hansen (Ben Bailey Smith) standing with his arms around Fi (Donna Air) with the I'm with the Band light sign and drum set and guitars behind them.

Fi (Donna Air), Richie Hansen (Ben Bailey Smith) © BBC / Sister Pictures

Just 45 minutes from London, Maidstone Studios is the UK’s largest independent studios.  The studios are classed as a regional studio facility and has hosted some of the industry’s best loved television programmes from Later… with Jools Holland (2013-2018) to Hetty Feather (2015-2020).

The Split Series 2 will air on BBC One from Tuesday 11th February 2020 at 9pm.

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

Suffragette (2015)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Suffragette film poster- The three sufragetters facing the camera with "The Time is Now" "Suffrafettes" written on top

Suffragette film poster © Pathe

Director: Sarah Gavron

Writer: Abi Morgan

Starring: Carey Mulligan, Helena Bonham Carter, Meryl Streep, Ben Whishaw, Brendan Gleeson, Anne-Marie Duff

Production Companies: Film4, BFI, Ingenious Media, Canal+, Ciné+, Ruby Films

Kent Locations Used: The Historic Dockyard Chatham

Told through the eyes of a young mother, Suffragette is a powerful film about the foot soldiers of the suffragette movement in late 19th and early 20th century Britain. When peaceful protests fail, a group of suffragettes take radical moves to be heard, risking their jobs, homes, families and even their lives.

Carey Mulligan as Maud looking out of a window next to a vase of flowers

Carey Mulligan as Maud © Pathe

The film is directed by Sarah Gavron (Brick Lane, This Little Life) and written by Abi Morgan (Shame, The Iron Lady).

Featuring an all-star cast including Carey Mulligan (Drive, An Education), Helena Bonham Carter (Alice In Wonderland, Fight Club), Meryl Streep (The Devil Wears Prada, The Hours), Ben Whishaw (Skyfall, Cloud Atlas), Brendan Gleeson (Edge of Tomorrow, Troy) and Anne-Marie Duff (Nowhere Boy, Notes on a Scandal).

The production visited The Historic Dockyard Chatham for a week in February 2014 which doubled as the exterior to the Bethnal Green Laundry, a factory and a prison cell.

The Historic Dockyard Chatham is a maritime heritage location set over an 80 acre site. The location boasts a variety of Georgian and Victorian architecture, maritime environment, cobbled streets, and industrial buildings. The Historic Dockyard Chatham is a popular film location and has previously been seen on screen in The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (2015) Our World War (2014) and Mr Selfridge (2012-2015).

Suffragette was released in cinemas on Monday 12th October 2015 and is now available for DVD and online purchase.

 

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