The Phantom of the Open (2021)

The Phantom of the Open movie poster featuring an actor as Maurice Flitford (Mark Rylance) lying down in centre frame wearing a red hat with a golf tea in his mouth. In the background supporting actress Sally Hawkins holds a flag and wears a green jacket. Other actors are standing behind her with a blue sky white cloud background.

The Phantom of the Open (2022) movie poster © IMDb

Writer: Simon Farnaby
Director: Craig Roberts
Starring: Mark Rylance, Sally Hawkins
Production Company: Baby Cow
Kent Locations Used: Bedgebury Manor, Littlestone Golf Club, The Historic Dockyard Chatham.

The Phantom of the Open (2021) is a feature film about Maurice Flitcroft, the fraudulent golfer who managed to con his way into several championship games in the 70’s despite not being able to swing a club.

Produced by Steve Coogan‘s company Baby Cow, the film was directed by Craig Roberts (Eternal Beauty, Just Jim), and stars Mark Rylance (Wolf Hall (2015), Bridge of Spies) as Maurice Flitcroft and Sally Hawkins (Tipping the Velvet (2002), The Shape of Water) as his wife Jean Flitcroft. The film is based on the book ‘The Phantom of the Open’ by Simon Farnaby and Scott Murray.

Production visited Kent to film at Bedgebury Manor, Littlestone Golf Club and The Historic Dockyard Chatham. Littlestone Golf Club features as the course where Maurice competes in the 1978 British Open Qualifying disguised as a Frenchman called Gerard Hoppy, and Anchor Wharf at The Historic Dockyard Chatham features throughout the film, doubling as Vickers Shipyard where Maurice and his son work. Bedgebury Manor was used as the interior of a hotel and a golf club, although unfortunately this doesn’t seem to have made the cut.

Bedgebury Manor is a former boarding school set in 200 acres of parkland in the Weald of Kent. There are many facilities available for filming including a theatre and gymnasium suitable for set building, outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts, cricket and football pitch. In 2007, Series 3 of Tittybangbang (2007) filmed at this location.

Littlestone Golf Club is a traditional links golf course on the Romney Marsh with views across the English Channel to France. The course sits on 300 acres of the Romney Marsh and is a site of special scientific interest for flora and fauna and location for the CL Junior Open 2021.

Set on the River Medway, The Historic Dockyard Chatham was once an active Royal Navy shipyard and is one of the most popular Kent filming locations. Recent productions to film at the Dockyard include The Nevers (2021), Bridgerton (2020) and The Crown Series 1 – 6 (2016-2023).

The Phantom of the Open was released in UK cinemas on Friday 18th March 2022.

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


Kate & Koji (2020-2022)

Koji sits at a table in a dated looking café. He holds a white mug and has a full English breakfast in front of him. Kate stands behind him, wearing a green apron and smiling at the camera.

Brenda Blethyn as Kate and Okorie Chukwu as Koji in Kate and Koji (2020-2022) © Hat Trick Productions

Writers: Andy Hamilton, Guy Jenkin
Director: Ben Kellett
Starring: Brenda Blethyn, Jimmy Akingbola (Series 1), Okorie Chukwu (Series 2), Blake Harrison, Barbara Flynn, Meera Syal
Production Company: Hat Trick Productions, ITV Studios
Kent Locations Used: Romney House, School Road, Charing, Herne Bay Beach, Pier & Promenade

Kate & Koji (2020-2022) is a six-part TV sitcom about a working-class woman played by Brenda Blethyn (Vera, Pride & Prejudice (2005)) who runs an old-fashioned café in a neglected seaside town. Kate develops an unexpected and spirited friendship with Koji, an asylum-seeking African doctor (Jimmy Akingbola – Series 1 (In the Long Run (2019), Bel-Air); Okorie Chukwu – Series 2 (The Complex: Lockdown (2020)). Although from very different worlds, they are similar in ways which they do not recognise, including a dogged determination to never back down!

Kate’s resourceful nephew ‘Medium’ played by Blake Harrison (The Inbetweeners (2010), Big Bad World (2013)) is often on hand to act as peacemaker. Barbara Flynn (The Durrells, Cracker) also stars as Kate’s lifelong nemesis Councillor Bone, and in Series 1, Meera Syal (Back to Life (2019-2021), The Split (2020)) guest stars as an adversarial GP to Koji.

The series is directed by Ben Kellett and written by Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin. It is a Hat Trick Production for ITV Studios filmed on location in Kent and at Elstree Studios in front of a live audience.

The seaside café for the TV sitcom was filmed at Frasiers Pie and Mash Shop in Herne Bay, standing in for the fictional seaside town of Seagate. For Series 1, the production also filmed exteriors of The Divers Arms pub and various scenes around the Promenade and Pier and an exterior scene at Herne Bay Industrial Estate. A further sequence was shot on the Promenade featuring a storm and its after-effects.

Series Two returned to Herne Bay for exterior filming and once again filmed along the Pier and Promenade, as well as the Neptune Arm and the Bandstand, which doubled as the exterior to a Community Centre.

A damaged road sign saying ‘Seagate’ on the side of a coastal road with the sea in background.

Herne Bay stands in for the fictional seaside town of Seagate © Hat Trick Productions

Herne Bay is a seaside town which has a Pier and shingle beach and is set just outside of the historic City of Canterbury. Recent productions to film in the area include Blue Planet UK – Series 1 (2019), The 1900 Island – Series 1 (2019) and Coast vs Country (2016).

Series 2 of Kate and Koji began airing on ITV on Wednesday 16th March 2022 at 9PM.

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


Paani Ch Madhaani (2021)

A couple stands in the middle of a city street in front of a blue VW campervan. Both stare lovingly at each other. The woman is wearing long flowy orange trousers, a long white and orange speckled top with the sleeves rolled up, a white knitted vest, a pair of brown slip-on shoes and an orange headscarf. She is holding a bunch of red roses and has a brown and white bag on her arm. The man has mid-length brown hair brushed away from his face and tidy facial hair. He wears a brown tweed vintage style jacket with a dark green checked shirt underneath, baggy light brown trousers and brown shoes. He is holding a wooden rectangular instrument case. The Title Paani Ch Madhaani is written across the bottom third of the movie poster.

Paani Ch Madhaani Film Poster © Dara Films Entertainment

Director: Vijay Kumar Arora
Starring: Neeru Bajwa, Gippy Grewal, Rene Costa
Production Company: Dara Films Entertainment
Kent Locations Used: Canterbury, Herne Bay, Ramsgate Marina

Paani Ch Madhaani (2021) follows the story of Gulli (Gippy Grewal), a rising star in the music world in 1980, who is waiting for his big break. Eventually, Gulli decides that the secret to success is becoming a duo and teams up with another singer, Gazal (Neeru Bajwa). The film follows the ups, downs and hardships of trying to make it in the business, and a burgeoning friendship that may turn into romance.

The rom-com was directed by Vijay Kumar Arora (Prince’s Son, A Flying Jatt) and stars Neeru Bajwa (Munda Hi Chahida, Shaada), Gippy Grewal (Daaka, Ardaas Karaan) and Rene Costa (Holby City, Jawaani Jaaneman).

During filming, production visited Herne Bay, Canterbury, and Ramsgate Marina.

Scenes at Herne Bay include shots of the Clock Tower, Pier and Central Parade. Herne Bay is a coastal seaside town near Canterbury and is known for its 2-mile-long coastline, colourful beach huts, promenade, pier, and historical bandstand. Many productions have filmed here before including High End Yaariyaan (2019) and Two Weeks to Live (2020).

Production filmed a romantic song at Ramsgate Marina. Ramsgate is a thriving seaside town with beautiful Victorian terraced housing, a Marina, Port and Promenade. It often doubles for period London streets. Productions such as The Flood (2019) and Juliet, Naked (2018) have previously filmed here.

Scenes were also filmed in Canterbury City Centre. Canterbury is a historic cathedral city; the Cathedral is amongst the oldest in England. The city is a popular tourist destination which boasts a modern shopping complex with many restaurants and bars. Canterbury Prison is a popular filming location, with recent productions including Break (2020) and Avengement (2019).

Paani Ch Madhaani was released in select UK cinemas on Friday 5th November 2021.

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


Sex Education Series 3 (2021)

Three actors pose in character outside a school. The background shows a building to the left and some trees. The two actors left and centre are dressed in colourful clothing and the actor on the right wears black and grey.

Sex Education Series 3 (2021) – Aimee Lou Wood, Emma Mackey and Chris Jenks in Episode 1 © Netflix

Writer: Laurie Nunn
Director: Ben Taylor
Starring: Asa Butterfield, Gillian Anderson, Ncuti Gatwa
Production Company: Eleven
Kent Locations Used: Shorncliffe Military Cemetery,  The Hawthorne Trench, Folkestone Harbour Arm

Sex Education (2021) is a TV comedy series about teenage boy Otis Milburn (Asa Butterfield (MerlinAshes to Ashes) with a sex therapist mother (Gillian Anderson (The Crown Series 1 – 6 (2016-2023), The Great (2020-2023)), who teams up with high school classmate Eric Effiong (Ncuti Gatwa (Stonemouth, Bob Servant)) to set up an underground sex therapy clinic at school.

Produced by Eleven for Netflix, the series was written by Laurie Nunn (Pregnant PauseRadiance) and directed by Ben Taylor (Year of the Rabbit (2019), Cockroaches). Series 3 starts with a slightly more grown up, sassier Otis. He is joined by three new characters; Jemima Kirke (Maniac, Girls) playing new headmistress Hope, Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter series, The Patriot) playing Peter Groff and songwriter Dua Saleh, in their acting debut as Cal, a nonbinary student.

During filming, production visited Shorncliffe Military Cemetery in Sandgate which doubles as a WWII cemetery in France in Episode 5, and The Hawthorne Trench near Canterbury which doubles as a WWII trench experience in France in the same episode. Production also visited the Harbour Arm in Folkestone Harbour to film a scene for Episode 7 with Maeve (Emma Mackey) and Aimee (Aimee Lou Wood) reuniting with Maeve’s younger sister. Sandgate is a village in the Folkestone and Hythe district of Kent, it has a pebble beach, two castles and Martello Towers. A recent TV drama filmed in the area which is due to air in 2022.

Hawthorne Trench, located in Elham near Canterbury, is an area of recreated World War One trench systems which totals over 250 metres. Currently the Trench consists of an Officers’ dugout, regimental aid posts, cookhouses, railway systems, latrines as well as front and second line which is connected by communication trenches. The trench is located on a 25-acre field with nearby woodland which can also be used for filming.

Folkestone is a seaside town with an elegant clifftop promenade, a coastal park, fishing harbour and Victorian cliff-top lifts. Folkestone Harbour is a popular filming location, recent TV dramas to film here include Back to Life Series 1-2 (2019-2021) and Pistol (2022).

Series 3 of Sex Education was released on Netflix on Friday 17th September 2021.

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


Breeders Series 2 (2021)

Daisy Haggard as Ally and Martin Freeman as Paul lean against railings overlooking a beach with their backs to the camera. Daisy has blonde hair and wears a cream hooded coat and blue jeans. Martin wears a black coat and dark jeans. In the distance is a couple on the beach by the sea

Breeders (2021) Daisy Haggard as Ally & Martin Freeman as Paul ©Sky UK Limited

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

Martin Freeman and Daisy Haggard star in 10-part comedy Breeders (2021) as Paul and Ally, a married couple who are navigating the turbulent waters of parenthood.

Directed by Chris Addison (The Thick of It, Skins) and Ben Palmer (The Inbetweeners, Bo’ Selecta!) and starring Martin Freeman (Black Panther, The Hobbit Trilogy, Sherlock), Daisy Haggard (Harry Potter, Black Mirror), Alun Armstrong (Frontier, New Tricks), Joanna Bacon (The Bill, Love Actually), Patrick Baladi (The Office, Stella) and Stella Gonet (The Cry, The House of Eliott).

Various scenes for Series 2 were filmed in Broadstairs and shot on location at The Funicular Coffeehouse, Victoria Parade, Louisa Bay, Harbour Street and Ocean Drive.

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).

Once part of the Broadstairs Cliff Railway, The Funicular Coffeehouse overlooks Viking Bay which has welcomed films like Juliet, Naked (2018) and Hurricane (2018).

Breeders returns to Sky One and streaming service NOWTv on Thursday 27th May, with all 10 episodes being made available on demand.

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


Pandemonium (2020)

The Jessop family stand in front of the Towers at Reculver country park on their family holiday

Alison Steadman pictured centre
© BBC Studios / Andrew Hayes Watkins

Writer: Tom Basden
Director: Ella Jones
Starring: Alison Steadman
Production Company: BBC Studios
Kent Locations Used: Reculver Country Park; Walpole Bay

Pandemonium (2020) is a one-off TV drama in which the Jessops family, having had a terrible year due to the Pandemic, decided to take a holiday to boost morale, but it is October in Margate.

Produced by BBC Studios the show was written by Tom Basden (PlebsAfter Life), directed by  Ella Jones and stars Alison Steadman (Gavin & Stacey)

Production visited Reculver Country Park and Walpole Bay as the Jessop’s holiday destinations.

Reculver is a popular destination, comprising the atmospheric Reculver Towers and Roman Fort ruins and the surrounding country park and has previously featured in The Tunnel: Vengeance (2017-2020) and The Medusa Touch (1978).

Walpole Bay is 400 meters long with a sandy beach, promenade and tidal swimming pool. Facilities include a cafe, jet ski hire, parking, golf, tennis and indoor bowls. It features in the production where a car drives off the seawall onto the beach below and has also featured in Liar Series 1 & 2 (2017)

Pandemonium will air on Wednesday 30th December 2020 on BBC.

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


Two Weeks to Live (2020)

Maisie Williams as character Kim Noakes stands to the right of the programme title against a blue background holding candy floss. She is wearing scruffy clothes featuring a green and black jumper, blue hooded jacket and ripped burgundy trousers. A penguin toy splattered in blood is suspended in front of the programme title featured in pink with the strapline Sweet. Innocent. Badass. Underneath.

Two Weeks To Live (2020) with Maisie Williams © Sky UK Ltd

Writer: Gaby Hull
Director: Al Campbell
Starring: Maisie Williams, Sian Clifford, Mawaan Rizwan
Production Company: Kudos Film and Television for SKY UK TV
Kent Locations Used: Herne Bay, Dreamland, Harbour Arm and Margate Beach

Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones, Doctor Who, Mary Shelley) stars in the new six-part comedy drama Two Weeks to Live (2020) for Sky TV. The series will focus on the adventures of Kim Noakes, a young woman raised on the margins of society by her mother. Fifteen years after the death of her father, Kim decides to leave everything behind and find his killer.

Directed by Al Campbell (Code 404, Man Down) and written by Gaby Hull (We Hunt Together, Cheat) the series was produced by Kudos Film and Television for Sky TV and also stars Sian Clifford (Fleabag, A Serial Killer’s Guide to Life) and Mawaan Rizwan (Next of KinVera).

During filming, production visited Herne Bay to film a scene on Hampton Pier  as well as a house on Grand Drive. The cast and crew also filmed in Margate at amusement park Dreamland, the Lighthouse Bar on the Harbour Arm and Margate Beach.

Actors Sian Clifford, Maisie Williams and Mawaan Rizwan stand in front of a merry-go-round.

Two Weeks To Live (2020) with Sian Clifford, Maisie Williams and Mawaan Rizwan filming at Dreamland, Kent © Sky UK Ltd

Herne Bay is a seaside town which has a pier and shingle beach and is set just outside of the historic City of Canterbury. Recent productions to film in the area include Kate & Koji (2020), The 1900 Island – Series 1 (2019) and Blue Planet UK – Series 1 (2019).

Margate is a seaside town complete with sandy beach, harbour, amusement park, period housing and the modern art gallery Turner Contemporary. Margate seafront in the district of Thanet is a popular film location and has been used as in various productions such as Above The Clouds (2020)Top Boy – Series 3 (2019) and King of Thieves (2018).

Two Weeks to Live will be available to stream on Sky TV from Wednesday 2nd September 2020.

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


Above the Clouds (2020)

Above the Clouds movie poster- Two characters sat and leant up against a yellow car with clouds in the background. Animated style image.

Above the Clouds (2020) © Leon Chambers – Third Light Films

Director: Leon Chambers
Writers: Simon Lord (screenplay), Leon Chambers, Simon Lord, James Godden
Starring: Naomi Morris, Andrew Murton, Philip Jackson
Production Company: Third Light Films
Kent Locations Used: Margate – Turner Contemporary, Seafront and The Harbour Arm, Marine Drive and The Parade, Thanet Way

Above the Clouds (2020) is an offbeat coming-of-age comedy of one girl’s marathon quest to find her real father. When headstrong Charlie (Naomi Morris) discovers her parents have been keeping her biological father secret from her, she recruits a rough sleeper (Andrew Murton) to be her ‘responsible adult’ and sets off for Scotland on her provisional driving licence to go and find him.

Above the Clouds is a feature film directed by Kent filmmaker Leon Chambers who has directed a number of film shorts including Stolen Youth, Lonely Hearts and The Long Lonely Walk, which won five Film Festival awards. Above The Clouds was written by Simon Lord from a story by Leon Chambers, Simon Lord and James Godden.

Above the Clouds, starring Naomi Morris (Pennyworth, Back), Andrew Murton (Let Me Go), Philip Jackson (Peterloo, The Good Karma Hospital), has screened at major international festivals including Austin Film Festival 2018, Naples International Film Festival 2019 and Margate Film Festival 2019 and has won seven awards including Austin Film Festival 2018 Best Narrative Feature – Audience Award, Oxford Film Festival 2019 Best Actress Award & Best Director Award and Naples International Film Festival 2019 Indie Spirit Award. For the full list of festival screenings and awards see here.

Leon Chambers and Simon Lord are currently in development with their next collaboration, sci-fi satire A Certain Tomorrow.

The film makes use of multiple filming locations in Margate including the Turner Contemporary gallery, Margate Seafront and The Harbour Arm, Marine Drive and The Parade and Thanet Way.

Two characters sitting on a white bench in front of a white wall and window at the Turner Contemporary Gallery. Sea can be seen through the window.

Above the Line (2020) production still – Turner Contemporary © Leon Chambers – Third Light Films

Margate is a seaside town complete with sandy beach, harbour, amusement park, period housing and the ultra-modern art gallery Turner Contemporary which offers exhibitions, events and various educational opportunities.

Margate seafront in the district of Thanet is a popular film location and has been used as in various productions such as in feature films King of Thieves (2018) and King Lear (2018). Ramsgate is also a popular location in Thanet and has featured in several productions such as Baptise (2019), Hurricane (2018) and The Tunnel: Sabotage (2016).

Two characters wearing casual clothes standing and talking in front of Margate beach leant against the railing.

Above the Line (2020) – Margate Seafront © Leon Chambers – Third Light Films

The film was released on Tuesday 28th January 2020 and is available to view via iTunes, Amazon Prime and various other on demand channels.

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


Purge of Kingdoms (2019)

Film poster depicting the portraits of 12 cast membersonn a grey medieval-style grid. With the title “Purge of Kingdoms” is in gold lettering

Purge Of Kingdoms Movie Poster © Conglomerate Media

Writers: J.J Mcdowell and Damián Romay
Director: Ara Paiaya
Starring: Angus MacFadyen, Lou Ferringo, Armando Gutierrez, Anna Hutchinson, Madison McKinley, Arin Aldridge
Production Companies: Conglomerate Media, Swen Group
Kent Locations Used: Leeds Castle

Purge Of Kingdoms (2019) is a parody of HBO’s hit TV series Game of Thrones. The story depicts nobles from Eight Kingdoms gathering for Purge Fest 3000 to try and put an end to their violent conflicts. Meanwhile, members of the Fat King’s own family conspire to overthrow him.

Purge Of Kingdoms was written by J.J. McDowell (Grow Old with Me, A Chance in Hell) and Damián Romay (Below the Surface, Dangerous Lessons), directed by Ara Paiaya (Instant Death, Skin Traffik). The film stars Angus Macfadyen (Braveheart, We Bought a Zoo), Lou Ferringo (The Incredible Hulk, Instant Death), Armando Gutierrez (The Little Mermaid, Anastasia: Once Upon a Time), Anna Hutchinson (Robert the Bruce, Encounter), Madison McKinley (The Wolf of Wall Street, Orange is the New Black) and Arin Aldridge (Guardians, The Bill (2000)).

The film was shot almost entirely at Leeds Castle in Maidstone including the Maiden’s Tower and the large grounds surrounding the castle, all  doubling as the fictional Kingdom of Kingshire.

Leeds Castle is located in Maidstone as is a romantic castle with medieval themed rooms. Other features include 1920s style interiors and original marble bathrooms, large estate – grounds, gardens, moat, river, large formal gardens, woodlands, maze with shell grotto and a aviary. The castle dates mostly from the 19th century and has been open to the public since 1976. The location was also used during the filming of Henry VIII (1979) and Lady Jane (1986).

Purge of Kingdoms was released on Monday 16th December 2019.

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


In the Long Run – Series 2 (2019)

In the Long Run Series 2 Poster featuring various cast members on a yellow, orange and green patterned background. In The Long Run 2 created by Idris Elba written to the right.

In the Long Run Series 2 Poster © Sky UK Limited

Creator: Idris Elba
Director: Sandy Johnson
Writers: Idris Elba, Danielle Ward, Shivani Vijayapalan, Grace Ofori-Attah, Ben Tagoe, Fraser Ayres
Starring: Idris Elba, Bill Bailey, Neil D’Souza, Madeline Appiah, Jimmy Akingbola
Production Companies: Green Door Pictures, Sprout Pictures
Kent Locations Used: Nell’s Café Gravesend

In the Long Run (2017-) is a series created by and starring Idris Elba. The comedy is semi-autobiographical about the actor’s childhood in London during the 80’s. The second series starts as Walter (Idris Elba) is elected union representative at his workplace. When their jobs are threatened, Walter’s friends and colleagues, Bagpipes (Bill Bailey) and Rajesh (Neil D’Souza), plan to go on strike. Meanwhile, Agnes (Madeline Appiah) is looking to start a new career at the local council.

The series stars Idris Elba (Thor Ragnarok, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom), Bill Bailey (Hot Fuzz, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy), Neil D’Souza (Humans, EastEnders), Madeline Appiah (Partners in Crime, Hamlet) and Jimmy Akingbola (Spectral, Arrow).

Series 2 is directed by Sandy Johnson (Johnathan Creek, Benidorm). Episode writing credits include Danielle Ward (Danger Mouse, Mongrels), Shivani Vijayapalan, Grace Ofori-Attah (Urban Myths), Ben Tagoe (Jamie Johnson, Coronation Street) and Fraser Ayres (Holby City, Coronation Street).

During filming production visited Nell’s Café in Gravesend where Bagpipes and Valentine (Jimmy Akingbola) stop for a cuppa on the road on their way to Southend.

Nell’s Café is located just off the A2 and M2 motorway at Marling Cross, Gravesend. It is a popular, long running family owned café and has previously featured in Babylon (2014), Age of Heroes (2011), The Interceptor (2015) and the BAFTA & Emmy award winning crime drama Killing Eve (2018). Gravesend is on the southern bank of the River Thames and boasts a cast iron pier, promenade and high street as well as international rail links at the nearby Ebbsfleet International Station.

In the Long Run Series 2 aired from Saturday 26th October 2019 on Sky One.

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