The Great (2020-2023)

Catherine the Great (Elle Fanning) stands on a beach with white cliffs in the background. She is wearing a historical style dress which is white with red flowers. She has a red flower in her hair.

Elle Fanning in The Great (2020-2023) © Hulu

Creator: Tony McNamara
Starring: Elle Fanning, Nicholas Hoult, Phoebe Fox, Gwilym Lee, Sacha Dhawan
Production Company: Thruline Entertainment, Echo Lake Entertainment, Lewellen Pictures, MRC Television, Macgowan Films
Kent Locations Used: Hever Castle, St Clere Estate, Botany Bay, Cobham Wood, The Historic Dockyard Chatham

The Great (2020-2023), a satirical comedy from American streaming company Hulu, follows the infamous rise of Prussian-born Catherine the Great as she ascends to become the longest serving female ruler in Russian history. Forced to choose between her own personal happiness and the future of an empire, she abandons a life of love and romance and vows to change a country plagued by deceit and ruin.

Series 3 sees Catherine and Peter attempt to make their marriage work after a very rocky start. But with Peter haunted by visions of his late grandfather, Peter The Great (Jason Isaacs), will he stay content as mere First Husband to Catherine the Great for long?

The series was created by Tony McNamara (The FavouriteAshby) and stars Elle Fanning (Maleficent, Mary Shelley) as Catherine the Great, Nicholas Hoult (Mad Max: Fury RoadWarm Bodies) as Peter III of Russia. Phoebe Fox (Close to the EnemyThe Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death), Gwilym Lee (Bohemian RhapsodyMidsomer Murders) and Sacha Dhawan (Iron FistThe History Boys) feature in supporting roles.

Production visited various locations in Kent for Series 1, 2 and 3.

In Series 1 Episode 8, the Italian Loggia on Hever Castle lake doubles as an Eastern European house where Peter III of Russia (Nicholas Hoult) and Catherine (Elle Fanning) meet the Swedish King Hugo (Freddie Fox) and Queen Agnes (Grace Molony). The Loggia reappears in Series 2 Episode 1 as the house in which Peter and his confidantes Grigor (Gwilym Lee) and Georgina (Charity Wakefield) hide out from Catherine’s army.

The fields of St Clere Estate in Sevenoaks were used to stage battle scenes in Series 1 Episodes 5 and 7. The location returned in Series 2 Episode 1 as Catherine’s army’s base camp. St Clere also reappears in Series 3 Episodes 6 and 8 as an army camp on the Russia / Sweden border and the frozen lake where one key character meets an unexpected end.

Botany Bay in Broadstairs features in a dream sequence in Series 2 Episode 10, where Catherine images Peter eating a whale on the beach.

Cobham Wood appears briefly in Series 3 Episode 6, as Catherine and Grigor ride in a carriage through the woods. The Tarred Yarn Store at The Historic Dockyard Chatham also features in Series 3 Episode 5, doubling as the interior of a town hall where Pugachev (Nicholas Hoult) incites the peasants against Catherine.

Hever Castle is an outstanding 13th century and Tudor castle with a moat, stunning Italianate gardens, a beautiful lake, as well as a mock Tudor Village. It was the original home of the Boleyn family. Productions that filmed here include Inkheart (2008) and The Third Day (2020).

St Clere Estate is set in 2800 acres of the rolling Kent countryside and offers stunning views of the North Downs. Some of the ground’s features include formal gardens, paddocks, a meadow, fields, an orangery, green houses and a temple by the lake. St Clere Estate has previously been used to film Road Games (2016) and Sky’s original series Gangs of London (2020-2022).

One of the most popular filming locations in Kent, Botany Bay is a sandy bay set against a white cliff backdrop with a steep, sandy track for vehicle access and small portable café. Recent productions to have filmed on Botany Bay include The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021), The Baby (2022) and Sulphur and White (2020).

Cobham Wood is a vast woodland park containing an array of vegetation and landscapes. The park is home to the Darnley Mausoleum; built in the 18th Century as the final resting place for the Darnley family, it remains unused.

A historic 17th Century Dockyard spanning over 80 acres, Chatham Dockyard contains over 100 buildings dating from the Georgian and Victorian periods. One of the most popular filming locations in Kent, recent productions to have filmed on the site include A Spy Among Friends (2022), Enola Holmes 2 (2022), and Series 3 of Jerk (2023).

Series 3 of The Great will be released on Lionsgate+ on Friday 14th July 2023 and the series is currently available to stream on StarzPlay and All4.

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


Carry on Jatta 3 (2023)

The cast of Carry on Jatta 3 stand on a golden stage with gold chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. They lean on a large golden 3. The cast all wear black glittery formal wear and are holding one hand over an eye in an O shape.

Carry on Jatta 3 (2023) © Humble Motion Pictures

Director: Smeep Kang
Starring: Gippy Grewal, Sonam Bajwa, Gurpreet Ghuggi
Production Company: Humble Motion Pictures
Kent Locations Used:
Botany Bay

Carry on Jatta 3 (2023) is the third instalment in a series of Punjabi comedy films produced by star Gippy Grewal.

Directed by Smeep Kang (Chakk de Phatte, Second Hand Husband), the film stars Gippy Grewal (Paani Ch Madhaani (2021), Jatt James Bond), Sonam Bajwa (Ardab Mutiyaran, Nikka Zaildar 2) and Gurpreet Ghuggi (Race, Singh is Kinng).

Production visited Kent to film the sequence for the titular song at Botany Bay, Viking Bay, North Foreland Road and Whiteness Road.

Botany Bay is a very popular filming location due to its sandy beach, rock pools, white cliffs and highly photographed white chalk stacks. Recent productions to have filmed there include The Baby (2022), The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2022) and Jhimma (2021).

Carry on Jatta 3 (2023) will be released in UK Cinemas on Thursday 29th June 2023.

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


The Baby (2022)

Michelle de Swarte as Natasha stands in a field holding a baby. She wears a brown corduroy jacket, and the baby is wearing a white onesie with green, orange and yellow shapes on it. Natasha and the baby both looking nervously at someone to the right of the frame, who’s face is obscured from view.

Michelle de Swarte in The Baby (2022) © Ross Ferguson/HBO

Writer / Creator: Lucy Gaymer, Sian Robins-Grace
Starring: Michelle de Swarte, Sinéad Cusack, Isy Suttie, Shvorne Marks, Amber Grappy
Production Company: HBO, Proverbial Pictures, Sister Pictures, Sky
Kent Locations Used: Botany Bay, Acacia Sports Hall in Dartford, Nell’s Café, Ramsgate Harbour Approach Tunnel, St Andrew’s Lake and Watersports Centre in Halling, The Quadrangle in Sevenoaks

The Baby (2022) is a horror comedy series about 38-year-old Natasha who is furious that all her friends are having babies. When she is unexpectedly landed with one of her own, her life is thrown into turmoil. She doesn’t want a baby. But the baby definitely wants her.

Created by Lucy Gaymer and Sian Robins-Grace in their debut as TV writers, The Baby stars Michelle de Swarte (The Duchess) as Natasha, Sinéad Cusack (Waterland (1992), Marcella (2016)) as Barbara, Isy Suttie (Peep Show, Shameless) as Rita, Shvorne Marks (Breeders (2021), Endeavour) as Mags, and Amber Grappy (Wrecked) as Bobbi.

During filming, production visited various locations across Kent including Botany Bay, Nell’s Café in Gravesend, the Ramsgate Harbour Approach Tunnel, Acacia Sports Hall in Dartford, St Andrew’s Lake and Watersports Centre in Halling and The Quadrangle in Sevenoaks.

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 Jhimma (2021), Sulphur and White (2020), and The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2022).

Nell’s Café is a popular roadside café along the A2 in Gravesend. Situated on the southern bank of the River Thames, Gravesend boasts a cast iron pier, promenade and high street as well as international rail links at the nearby Ebbsfleet International station. Previous productions to have filmed at Nell’s Café include Series 1 of Killing Eve (2018-2022), Series 2 of Temple (2021) and Series 2 of In the Long Run (2019).

The Ramsgate Harbour Approach Tunnel is the approach road to Port of Ramsgate. The tunnel is over 800m long and about 9.5 metres wide. Because this is an alternative approach to the Harbour, this road and tunnel may be controlled during agreed periods. Previous productions to have made use of this include Hard Sun (2018) and The Tunnel: Sabotage (2016).

The Acacia Sports Hall in Dartford is a large sports hall and is part of a multi-use site that includes a manor and several outbuildings with ample parking. The Sports Hall is perfect for set building and storage with a ceiling height of over 20m. Recently opened as a build space for productions, The Baby is the first to make use of the facilities.

Situated between the River Medway and Pilgrims Way, St Andrews Lake in Halling is a unique 70-acre blue lake in a former chalk quarry with a total area of 122 acres of mixed woodland and a small lagoon area. From the Watersports Centre, you can hire a kayak, paddle board or a sailing boat.

The Quadrangle is a large Victorian farmstead built in 1870 in the Darent Valley, near Shoreham Village. The site features a grand lofty hay barn (15m x 8.5 m), converted Granary, stables, a holiday cottage, an orchard, and access to the River Darent for swimming and boating. Jamie and Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast (2016) used the location for filming a mini food festival.

The Baby was released on NowTV on Sunday 24th April 2022.

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


Jhimma (2021)

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.


The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2022)

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.


Sulphur and White (2020)

Mark Stanley (David Tait) wearing a brown jacket and Emily Beecham (Vanessa Tait) wearing a blue floral dress, looking at each other with greenery and sky behind them.

Mark Stanley (David Tait) and Emily Beecham (Vanessa Tait) in Sulphur and White (2020)    Copyright: IMDb Photo: Nick Wall

Writer: Susie Farrell
Director: Julian Jarrold
Starring: Mark Stanley, Emily Beecham, Anna Friel, Dougray Scott, Aftab Shivdasani
Production Companies: AMG International, EMU Films
Kent Locations Used: Thanet (Joss Bay, Kingsgate Bay, Botany Bay)

Feature film Sulphur and White (2020) is inspired by the true story of David Tait (Mark Stanley), a city trader and mountaineer, who tries to forget his traumatic childhood as he climbs the corporate ladder in the City Of London. When he meets Vanessa (Emily Beecham), David’s life begins to change.

Sulphur and White is directed by the award winning Julian Jarrold (Kinky Boots, Becoming Jane) and the screenplay was written by Susie Farrell (Dirty God). It stars Mark Stanley (Game of Thrones, Run) as David Tait and Emily Beechman (Daphne, Hail, Caesar!) as Vanessa. Co-stars also include Anna Friel (Marcella, Deep Water), Dougray Scott (EverAfter, Hitman) and Aftab Shivdasani (Mast, Kasoor).

Filming took place in Thanet, a district of Kent containing resort towns Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs with beautiful beaches.

The production visited Joss Bay in Broadstairs, a proclaimed surfer’s paradise, boasting a 200 metre-long stretch of sandy beach. Kingsgate Bay and Botany Bay afford incredible views of white cliffs and highly photographed white chalk stacks.

These coastal locations have attracted various film and TV productions over the years from French coming-of-age film À nous les petites Anglaises (1976), Mr Selfridge Series 4 (2016), Bhikari (2017) to most recently Dracula (2020).

Sulphur and White will be released in UK cinemas on Friday 6th March 2020.

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


Britain’s Favourite Walks: Top 100 (2018)

Presenter Julia Bradbury on the beach at Ramsgate starting the Ramsgate to to Margate Walk. Julia wears an outdoor coat and backpack

Pictured: Julia Bradbury on the beach at Ramsgate starting the Ramsgate to to Margate Walk © ITV

Assistant Producer:  Holly Bryson

Starring:  Julia Bradbury, Ore Oduba

Production Company:  ITV Studios / Shiver Productions

Kent Locations Used:
  Ramsgate,  Kingsgate Bay, Botany Bay, Margate and White Cliffs of Dover, South Foreland Lighthouse, St Margarets at Cliffe, Deal

This new two-and-a-half-hour special for ITV pulls on its hiking boots for a countdown of Britain’s favourite walks. Britain’s Favourite Walks: Top 100, presented by Julia Bradbury (Countryfile) and Ore Oduba (The One Show), showcases the finest rambles, scrambles and ambles across the countryside and through cities to bring viewers the ultimate guide to the British outdoors.

Based on the results of the largest survey ever conducted, the top 100 have been voted for by more than 8,000 walking enthusiasts. Famous faces, including Ade Edmondson, Janet Street Porter and Robert Bathurst hit the trails to reveal their own favourites, joined by walking experts, nature aficionados and members of the public with extraordinary stories to provide a vivid insight into the the history of the trails.

The programme visits various locations in Kent on two walks, firstly the Ramsgate to Margate Walk featuring beautiful spots such as Kingsgate Bay and Botany Bay. The second walk, the Dover to Deal Walk features the stunning National Trust sites of the stunning  White Cliffs of Dover  and the  charming South Foreland Lighthouse, as well as picturesque St Margarets at Cliffe and Deal.

The Kent Coastline is a popular location with TV productions for its dramatic scenery and convenient connections by road to London. Most recently it played a starring role in Sky Atlantic’s The Tunnel: Vengeance 2017 filmed entirely in Kent and Calais.

Kingsgate Bay, a small sandy bay surrounded by chalk cliffs that connects at low tide through Whiteness cliff arch to Botany Bay, was featured in Mr Selfridge Series 4 (2016), while both the White Cliffs of Dover and St Margarets Bay featured in Missing Series 1 & 2 (2009-2010).

The photograph shows Ramsgate Marina with small boats harboured

Pictured: Ramsgate Marina © ITV

Britain’s Favourite Walks: Top 100 will be broadcast on ITV at 7.30pm on Tuesday 30th January 2018.

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

 


The Tunnel: Vengeance (2017)

 

Actors Clémence Poésy and Stephen Dillane look on at camera in police building

The Tunnel: Vengeance – © Sky Atlantic

Writer: Emilia Di Girolamo

Directors: Anders Engstrom and Giles Bannier

Starring: Clémence Poésy and Stephen Dillane

Production company: Kudos

Kent locations used: The Production was based in the County and locations are across East Kent and France

The Tunnel: Vengeance returns for its final and third series this December. The six-part crime-thriller is set against the backdrop of a refugee crisis in Europe, which leads British detective Karl (Stephen Dillane) to partner with Elise (Clémence Poésy) from the French National Gendarmerie. Together they investigate crimes such as the setting alight of a fishing vessel transporting refugees across the Channel. The series examines themes of terrorism, refugees and the rise of far-right political groups.

In March 2017, the production team, which was based in Sandwich, filmed across East Kent, with locations including Reculver, Botany Bay, Ramsgate Royal Harbour and the Port of Dover.

East Kent is home to spectacular coastal landscapes and historic towns, and boasts excellent transport links to London and western Europe. East Kent has been used for filming by productions such as Liar (2017) and Humans: Series 2 (2016).

Don’t miss the return of The Tunnel: Vengeance, with all the episodes available on Thursday 14 December on Sky Atlantic at 9pm.

 Watch the series teaser here:

 

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


Bhikari (2017)

Bhikari movie poster- Image of man lying on floor next to drawing of elephant god

Bhikari

Writer: Guru Thakur

Director: Ganesh Acharya

Starring: Swwapnil Joshi, Rucha Inamdar

Kent Locations Used:  Kingsgate Bay, Botany Bay

Bhikari follows the story of a rich young man whom having finished his higher education in London, returns to India where his mother hands over the family business to him. However, unfortunate events lead Samrat to face difficult choices in order to save his mother’s life.

The film is was written by Guru Thakur, a popular lyricist and screen-writer, and directed by Ganesh Acharya (Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, PK), and stars Swwapnil Joshi (Mumbai Pune Mumbai, Duniyadari) and Rucha Inamdar (Children of War, Under the Same Sun)

Both Kingsgate Bay and Botany Bay in Thanet were used as locations as backdrops for dance sequences for the feature.

Botany Bay is has stunning white cliffs and chalk stacks and is great for rock pooling. Over the years, Botany Bay has also featured in productions such as Thaandavam (2012), Humans: Series 2 (2016) and True Love (2012).

Kingsgate Bay is known for its beautiful sandy beach and sea caves. Kingsgate Bay has featured in films and television series such as Mr Selfridge Series 4 (2016) and Whistle and I’ll Come to You (2010).

Bhikari will be released on Amazon Prime for viewing on demand in January 2018.

 

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


Humans – Series 2 (2016)

Humans poster with the titles Humans 2.0 written on top of four cast members staring at the camera

Humans © Channel 4

Production Company: Kudos Productions, Matador Films

Starring: Gemma Chan, Emily Berrington, Colin Morgan, Katherine Parkinson, Carrie-Ann Moss, Tom Goodman-Hill

Kent Locations Used:  Westgate-on-Sea – West Bay Café, Piggy Bank nursery, Station Road Birchington, Botany Bay, Norfolk Road, Cliftonville

Set in a parallel present, Humans returns for a second series and explores how the latest family gadgets, highly-developed robotic servants called “Synths”, affect and transform human lives, not always for the better.

Series two picks up several months after the end of the first series – Niska (Emily Berrington) is still missing and her fellow synths – Mia (Gemma Chan), Leo (Colin Morgan) and Max (Ivanno Jeremiah) are still trying to find their place in the world amidst unconfirmed reports of synths behaving erratically.

Humans Ed (Sam Palladio) standing in front of beach huts at Westgate-on-Sea

Humans Ed (Sam Palladio) at Westgate-on-Sea © Channel 4

The award winning first series of Humans attracted an average of 4.8million viewers, becoming Channel 4’s highest rated drama in 20 years.

The series stars Gemma Chan (Secret Diary of a Call Girl Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit), Emily Berrington (The Inbetweeners 2 24: Live Another Day), Colin Morgan (Merlin The Fall), Katherine Parkinson (The IT Crowd, The Boat That Rocked), Carrie-Ann Moss (Jessica Jones, The Matrix) and Tom Goodman-Hill (Mr Selfridge, Everest).

The production team filmed in Thanet between April and June 2016 using locations including Westgate-on-Sea – West Bay Café, Piggy Bank nursery, Station Road in Birchington and Botany Bay and Norfolk Road in Cliftonville.

Westgate-on-Sea is a coastal town near Margate which offers a sandy beach, arcades, Dreamland amusement park, shops and restaurant plus the renowned Turner Contemporary gallery. Botany Bay is in Thanet and is a popular film location due to its blue flag beach almost 200m long with stunning chalk cliffs and rock pools. The Thanet area has previously featured on screen in productions such as The Lady in the Van (2015), True Love (2012) and Ruby Blue (2007).

Humans series 2 starts on Sunday 30th October at 21:00 on Channel 4.

 

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