Charlotte Rampling

London Spy (2015)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Danny (BEN WHISHAW), Alex (EDWARD HOLCROFT) standing in a tunnel

London Spy – Danny (BEN WHISHAW), Alex (EDWARD HOLCROFT) © BBC/WTTV Limited

Creator: Tom Rob Smith

Director: Jakob Verbruggen

Starring: Ben Whishaw, Jim Broadbent, Edward Holcroft, Charlotte Rampling

Production companies: Working Title Television, BBC America, NBC Universal, BBC

Kent Locations: Isle of Grain, Medway and Dartford Crossing – QEII Bridge

London Spy is a gripping BBC Two five-part miniseries about a young man Danny (Ben Whishaw) who finds himself drawn into a dangerous world of espionage when his spy partner is found dead under suspicious circumstances. Danny must decide whether he’s prepared to fight for the truth, even though he is ill-equipped to take on what lies ahead of him.

The spy thriller series was created by best-selling author Tom Rob Smith (Child 44) and directed by Jakob Verbruggen (The Fall, The Bridge, Code 37).

London Spy has an outstanding cast including Ben Whishaw (Skyfall, Cloud Atlas, I’m Not There), Jim Broadbent (The Iron Lady, Harry Potter, Moulin Rouge!), Edward Holcroft (Kingsman: The Secret Service, Lady Chatterley’s Lover, Wolf Hall) and Charlotte Rampling (Broadchurch, The Duchess, Never Let Me Go).

The production filmed on the Isle of Grain in Medway for two days in October 2014 which is seen in episode one where the countryside and coast feature where Alex (Edward Holcroft) and Danny get to know each other.

In episode two, the Dartford Crossing QEII Bridge can be seen in the background of Danny’s workplace.

The Isle of Grain is on the Hoo Peninsula in Medway and has marshland and the fort, Grain Battery Tower. The Medway area has featured on screen in productions including Mr Selfridge (2012-2015), Black Sea (2014) and The Mystery of Edwin Drood (2012)

Don’t miss London Spy which starts on Monday 9th November 2015 on BBC Two at 21:00.

 

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

Great Expectations (1999)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Joe Gargery (Clive Russell ) with Young Pip (Gabriel Thomson) in his shoulders walking through a field, soldiers are walking either side of them

Joe Gargery (Clive Russell ) and Young Pip (Gabriel Thomson) © BBC

Directed By: Julian Jarrold

Written By: Charles Dickens (Novel) & Tony Marchant (Adaptation)

Starring: Ioan Gruffudd, Charlotte Rampling, Justine Waddell, Clive Russell

Production Company: BBC, WGBH

Kent Locations Used: Sheerness Docks, Kingswear Castle Paddlesteamer, Chatham Docks & River Medway

Surrounded by memorabilia from her ill-fated wedding, Ms Havisham invites local orphan Pip to her home to amuse her as she encourages her spiteful daughter Estella to break his heart. Pip’s future as a blacksmith is forever changed when an unknown sponsor pays for him to become a gentleman.

Starring Ioan Gruffudd (Fantastic Four) as Pip, Charlotte Rampling (The Duchess) as Miss Havisham and Justine Waddell (Killing Bono) as Estella, this is the first BBC adaptation of the classic Dickens tale and was originally aired in 1999.

Young Pip (Gabriel Thompson) and Young Biddy (Laura Aikman) sat on the grass talking to each other, wicker baskets are behind them

Young Pip (Gabriel Thompson) and Young Biddy (Laura Aikman) in Great Expectations 1999 © BBC

Filmed in a variety of Kent Locations, the BBC brought Great Expectations back to the county where it was originally conceived by Dickens.  Herbert Pocket’s bride to be, Clara, provides a refuge for reformed convict Abel Magwitch at Sheerness Docks where exterior shots of her house were filmed. Pip and Herbert Pocket arrange to meet Magwitch and help his escape at Chatham Docks, where slip 8 was used for the scene and exterior shots of the prison hulk ships.

The dramatic scene where Magwitch attempts to escape is well known to fans of the Dickens classic. The local Paddle steamer, “Kingswear Castle”, was used for the scenes and the production company used Stangate Creek on the River Medway for shots of the ship on the Thames Estuary. The Kingswear Castle also features in the 1998 BBC adaptation of Dickens last novel, Our Mutual Friend, starring Anna Friel and Paul McGann.

Dickens’ features Kent locations in many of his novels. The city of Rochester, which holds annual Dickens celebrations each year, can be recognised in many of the author’s novels such as The Mystery of Edwin Drood, The Pickwick Papers and David Copperfield. The Kent Film Office celebrates Dickens history with the county including Tv and film adaptions in The Dickens Trail.

Great Expectations was shown on BBC in 1999 and is now available to buy on DVD.

 

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