Broadstairs

Dracula (2020)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
CLAES BANG as Dracula wearing a cape and looking into the camera in candle light . An old stone staircase can be seen behind him.

Dracula (CLAES BANG) © BBC/Hartswood Photographer: Robert Viglasky


Writer: Mark Gatis, Steven Moffat, Bram Stoker
Director: Paul McGuigan, Damon Thomas, Jonny Campbell
Starring: Claes Bang, Jonathan Aris, Mark Gatiss, Dolly Wells
Production Company: Hartswood Films, BBC, Netflix
Kent Locations Used: Joss Bay, Broadstairs

From the makers of Sherlock, Dracula (2020) is a brand new drama based on Bram Stoker’s novel, Set in Transylvania in 1897, this time the blood-sucking count will be plotting against Victorian London.

The cast of the 3 feature length episodes is led by Claes Bang starring as Dracula (The Square, The Girl in the Spiders Web), and is supported by Jonathan Aris (Sherlock, The End of the F*cking World), Mark Gatiss (The Favourite, Sherlock) and Dolly Wells (Bridget Jones’s Diary, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies).

Production filmed a sunrise sequence at Joss Bay, Broadstairs which was not used in the final edit.

Joss Bay is a popular sandy beach sheltered by steep chalk cliffs and backing onto the North Foreland Golf Course. Several film productions have visited the location including Coast and Country (2016).

The beach is reputedly named after an eighteenth-century smuggler Joss Snelling. Joss Bay is Kent’s best-known surfing beach and is home to the longest established surf school on this coast. The site offers an ideal set for many film productions.

The Dracula mini-series will air on BBC One on three consecutive days starting at 9pm on Wednesday 1st January 2020. 

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. 

Juliet, Naked (2018)

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Two actors greeting one another on the beach, actress Rose Byrne is smiling at them in the middle carrying a blanket.

Juliet, Naked 2018 ©IMDb

Writer: Evgenia Peretz, Jim Taylor and Tamara Jenkins
Director: Jesse Peretz
Starring: Rose Byrne, Ethan Hawke, Jimmy O. Yang
Production Company: Apatow Productions, Bona Fide Productions, Ingenious Media
Kent Locations Used: Home Farm, Ramsgate, and Broadstairs

Juliet, Naked (2018), starring Ethan Hawke, Rose Byrne and Chris O’Dowd, is a warm, smart and funny adaptation of the Nick Hornby novel of the same name and features an obsessive rock fan, his long-standing girlfriend and the mysterious rocker he idolises.

Starring Rose Byrne (Bad Neighbours 1 & 2, Peter Rabbit) as Annie, Ethan Hawke (Training Day, Before Sunrise) as rock star Tucker Crowe and Chris O’Dowd (Bridesmaids, Moone Boy) as Duncan.

Home Farm in Swale was previously used in André Øvredals The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2017). Filming for Juliet, Naked at the American-style Home Farm took place in 2015 where the house and grounds were used.

Filming also took place in Ramsgate, which is a popular filming area and has been used in several films and TV series such as Hard Sun (2018) and The Tunnel: Sabotage (2016). Further scenes were also filmed on Viking Bay beach in Broadstairs, which recently featured in feature films Hurricane (2018) and The Lady in The Van (2015).

Juliet, Naked is due to be released in the UK in cinemas on 2nd November 2018.

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

Landscape Artist of the Year (2018)

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Image of series logo with writing Landscape Artist of the Year 2018 in black text

Landscape Artist of the Year 2018 ©Sky Arts

 

Starring: Joan Bakewell, Stephen Mangan
Production Company: Storyvault Films
Kent Locations Used: Viking Bay, Thanet

This competition based in England allows artist to showcase their talent over many rounds to contend for a grand prize. Landscape Artist of the Year is presented by Joan Bakewell (Home At Four-Thirty, Meeting Point) and Frank Skinner (Shane, A Little Bit of Elvis). Kate Bryan (Click, Portrait Artist of the Year) is one of the judges.

The third and fourth heats were filmed on the beach at Broadstairs. Viking Bay is a beautiful beach, surrounded by the town’s Victorian architecture. The series was filmed in early summer 2018 in this iconic Kent seaside town. Plenty of scenery to offer the viewers as well as the artists.

The Thanet area boasts many beaches and Viking Bay has starred in other Television series such as Coasts vs Country (2016), The Great British Bake Off (2014), and The Calling (2009).

Landscape Artist of the Year 2018 is due to air on Sky Arts on  Tuesday 16th October 2018.

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

Hurricane (2018)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Official Hurricane Movie Poster- Crashed plane at the bottom of the poster, three main characters at the centre of the poster in period clothing, planes and london skyline in background. Hurricane reads in the centre

Official Hurricane Movie Poster ©IMDb

 

Writers: Robert Ryan and Alastair Galbraith

Director: David Blair

Starring: Iwan Rheon, Milo Gibson, Stefanie Martini

Production Company: Head Gear Films

Kent Locations Used: Victoria Gardens & Stone Bay, Thanet

Hurricane is the story of Squadron 303, a group of courageous Polish soldiers who fought with British troops in the skies to defend England in WWII. The story is told through the eyes of Polish flying ace Jan Zumbach (Iwan Rheon), whose hope it is, that Britain can defeat the Nazis and free his own country.

Starring Iwan Rheon (Game of Thrones, Our Girl) as Jan Zumbach, Milo Gibson (Hacksaw Ridge, Gangster Land) as John Kent and Stefanie Martini (Prime Suspect, Endeavour) as Phyllis Lambert.

Victoria Gardens was used in one of the scenes scene with a bus where Josef Frantisek (Krystof Hádek) meets Jan Zumbach (Iwan Rheon) and Ziggy (Matt Malecki). Victoria Gardens, Broadstairs is situated in Thanet which is home to some of the most beautiful Georgian, Victorian and Regency buildings. Broadstairs has a is a sandy beach with sea-carved chalk cliffs with the scenery being used in the film when a character parachutes onto the beach from a war plane.

There was also a beach scene at Stone Bay, Broadstairs, where Jan Zumbach (Iwan Rheon) is seen walking off a beach (this follows him stealing a plane in France to fly to England).

Broadstairs is situated in Thanet which is home to many beautiful Georgian, Victorian and Regency buildings. The area is a popular location for a variety of films and TV series including Liar (2017), The Lady in the Van (2015), The Calling (2009,  Mr Selfridge Series 4 (2016).

The film is due to be released in the UK on 7th September 2018.

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

Coast Vs Country (2016)

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Presenters Kerr Drummond and Sara Damergi standing in the countryside with the sea in the background

Presenters Kerr Drummond and Sara Damergi © Channel 4

Production Company: Freeform Productions

Kent Locations Used:  Broadstairs & Viking Bay, Joss Bay, Kingsgate Bay, Margate, Ramsgate, Canterbury, Herne Bay

Coast Vs Country is Channel 4’s brand new property series from the creators of A Place in the Sun, helping house hunters find their dream property either by the sea or in the countryside.

The series is presented by interior designer, Kerr Drummond and buying expert and current face of A Place in the Sun, Sara Damergi.

Kent features throughout the series including Thanet locations Broadstairs & Viking Bay, Joss Bay, Kingsgate Bay, Margate, Ramsgate, as well as Canterbury and Herne Bay.

The Thanet area boasts the beautiful coastal towns of Broadstairs, Ramsgate and Margate which has sandy bays, parks and open spaces, galleries and amusements. Thanet has been used for filming by productions such as The Lady in the Van (2015) and Eastenders (2015).

Herne Bay is a seaside town which has a pier and shingle beach and is set just outside of the historic City of Canterbury. Previous productions which have filmed in the area include Rustom (2016), Terry and Mason’s Great Food Trip (2015) and Got To Dance (2012).

The Kent episodes will air on Channel 4 on:

  • Tuesday 22nd November 2016 – 16:00
  • Monday 28th November 2016 – 15:00
  • Tuesday 13th December 2016 – 15:00

 

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

 

The Lady in the Van (2015)

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The Lady In The Van - Dame Maggie Smith as Miss Shepherd being pushed in a wheelchair by Alex Jennings as Alan Bennett in

The Lady In The Van – Dame Maggie Smith as Miss Shepherd and Alex Jennings as Alan Bennett © Sony

Writer: Alan Bennett

Director: Nicholas Hytner

Starring: Maggie Smith, Alex Jennings, Dominic Cooper, James Corden, Jim Broadbent, Frances de la Tour

Production company: BBC Films, TriStar Productions

Kent Locations: Broadstairs – High Street, Esplanade, Harbour Street, Viking Bay Beach,  Morellis Gelato, Buckmaster House

The Lady in the Van is British film based on the true story about a homeless woman, Miss Shepherd (Maggie Smith), who temporarily parked her old yellow van on the driveway of writer Alan Bennett (Alex Jennings) in the 1970’s. As fifteen years went by, the pair developed an endearing but sometimes turbulent relationship, which translates into a funny, poignant and life-affirming story.

Adapted by Alan Bennett (The History Boys, A Private Function, Prick Up Your Ears) from his memoir of the same name, the film is directed by Nicholas Hytner (The Crucible, The Object of My Affection, Center Stage).

Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Gosford Park) stars as Miss Shepherd with Alex Jennings (The Queen, Babel, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason) playing Alan Bennett.

Also starring is Dominic Cooper (Mamma Mia!, Need for Speed, Captain America: The First Avenger), James Corden (Begin Again, Into the Woods, The History Boys), Jim Broadbent (Moulin Rouge!, Cloud Atlas, Gangs of New York) and Frances de la Tour (Hugo, The Book of Eli, Alice in Wonderland).

In November 2014, The Lady in the Van production team came to Kent to film in Broadstairs including the High Street, Esplanade, Harbour Street, Viking Bay Beach and http://www.morellisgelato.com/ for the scenes where Miss Shepherd (Maggie Smith) visits the coast. Buckmaster House in Broadstairs also doubled as Weston-Super-Mare for the scenes where Alan Bennett visits his mother.

Broadstairs is a traditional British seaside town offering sandy beaches with rides, beach huts, surfing, a harbour and cliff-top promenade. The High Street has historic red-brick buildings occupied by cafes, restaurants, bars and shops. Broadstairs has also been used as a film location in Eastenders (2015), Edge of Heaven (2014) and Hancock and Joan (2008).

Don’t miss The Lady in the Van which is released in cinemas on Friday 13th November 2015.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OA8tMziteZM

 

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

 

 

Mary Berry’s Absolute Favourites (2015)

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Mary Berry standing in front of a kitchen with her elbow leant against the counter top

Mary Berry – ©Shine TV

Starring: Mary Berry

Production Company: Shine

Kent Locations: Kingsgate Bay, Broadstairs

Mary Berry hits the road and revisits her favourite places in the UK, using them as inspiration for her food. As part of a six part series, the first episode will feature Kent.

Using simple and easy to follow recipes, Mary Berry’s dishes are extremely user friendly. The series shows Mary Berry travelling from the seaside to the countryside, to farmers’ markets and allotments; all the while suggesting that not a lot of money is needed to make a wholesome meal for the family.

Growing up in WWII Britain, Mary Berry explains that her mother made all their family meals from scratch. Mary demonstrates her joy of getting stuck in as she forages for wild mushrooms and learns to fly fish.

The first episode shows Mary Berry exploring the Kent Coast for seafood inspired meals and desserts. In the episode, Mary even visits Morellis Gelato in Broadstairs, which she admits has hardly changed at all since she first visited.

Broadstairs provides sandy beaches and relaxing cliff tops walks and has been a setting for many films, such as Edge of Heaven (2014 – some parts of Broadstairs were used to double as places in Margate), Only Fools and Horses: The Jolly Boys’ Outing (1989 – Broadstairs Police Station, which is now a pub on Gladstone Road) and many more.

Viewers can also see Broadstairs in last year’s The Great British Bake Off, as the team visited Viking Bay beach.

 

 

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

The Great British Bake Off (2014)

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Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry in the Great British Bake Off tent perched on a table

Paul Hollywood, Mary Berry © BBC, Love Productions, Mark Bourdillon

Production Company: Love Productions

Kent Locations Used: Viking Bay, Broadstairs

The fifth series of the hit cookery show The Great British Bake Off returns with experts Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry judging 12 contestants who battle it out in the kitchen to be crowned the Great British Bake Off Best Amateur Baker. 

Presented by comic duo Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc, the new series marks a move from BBC Two to a prime-time BBC One slot and features both the oldest and youngest competitors ever featured on the show.

Chetna baking behind a kitchen counter in the Bake Off tent

Chetna © BBC, Love Productions, Mark Bourdillon

Mum of two and Broadstairs resident Chetna Makan is also competing to win the accolade. Chetna is a fashion designer from Mumbai who moved to the UK 10 years ago. She runs a curry club for her friends and enjoys combining her mum’s traditional recipes with British baking as well as using her creative flair in the kitchen.

The Great British Bake Off filmed in Kent with Chetna and her family in their local area where they visited Viking Bay beach in Broadstairs.

Broadstairs is a coastal town in East Kent and sandy beach, Viking Bay beach is lined with traditional beach huts, a band stand and large Victorian terraces as well as a busy high street and many food and drink establishments. The area has previously been used for filming by productions such as True Love (2012), and The Fixer (2008). 

See how Chetna gets on and tune into the new series of The Great British Bake Off which starts on Wednesday 6th August 2014 on BBC One at 20:00.

 

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

Edge of Heaven (2014)

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Edge of Heaven cast standing in front of a hotel

Edge of Heaven © Hartswood Films/ITV

Starring: Blake Harrison, Justine Michelle Cain, Camille Coduri, Nitin Kundra, Laura Checkley, Louisa Lytton, Marcia Warren, Adrian Scarborough, Robert Evans

Production company: Hartswood Films

Kent Locations: Margate, Broadstairs, Morelli’s and Morgan’s

BLAKE HARRISON (Alfie) standing by the seaside with the beach and town behind him

BLAKE HARRISON (Alfie) © Hartswood Films/ITV

Edge of Heaven is a new six part ITV comedy drama series which displays life at Margate’s finest , and only, ‘80s themed B&B, run by the chaotic Taylor-Chatterjee family,  Wham!-loving Judy and her black pudding enthusiast Husband Tandeep,  and her grown up children, demobbed soldier Ann-Marie and Alfie, whose life is going badly ever since his fiancée Carly left him at the altar.

Edge of Heaven is a Hartswood Films production for ITV, and is produced by Elaine Cameron (Sherlock, Jekyll) and Paul McKenzie (Sadie J, Dani’s House). The series was written by Robert Evans (Stella), who also stars in the sitcom.

The comedy will feature Blake Harrison (The Inbetweeners), Justine Michelle Cain (Some Girls), Camille Coduri (Doctor Who), Nitin Kundra (Steel River Blues), Laura Checkley (Rosemary and Thyme), Louisa Lytton (EastEnders), Marcia Warren (Vicious) and Adrian Scarborough (Gavin and Stacey).

BLAKE HARRISON (Alfie) carrying JUSTINE CAIN (Carly) across the sandy beach

BLAKE HARRISON (Alfie) and JUSTINE CAIN (Carly) © Hartswood Films/ITV

The production visited Margate and Broadstairs between September and October 2013 to film on location and shoot exterior scenes including the B&B which is in Albert Terrace. The interiors of the B&B were filmed at Longcross Studios.

Margate is the quintessential British seaside town, with a sandy beach, harbour, arcades, and historic architecture. The town has lots to offer, including Turner Contemporary, quirky shops, independent galleries and trendy cafes. Margate is a popular filming location, having previously welcomed productions like True Love (2012) and The Apprentice (2009).

Broadstairs is in East Kent offers a sandy beach, Viking Bay lined with traditional beach huts, a band stand and large Victorian terraces as well as a busy high street and many food and drink establishments. The area has previously been used as a film locations by Eastenders (2015) and The Fixer (2008). 

Don’t miss the series, which starts on 21 February 2014 at 21:00 on ITV1.

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