TV Drama

Brave New World (2020)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Actor Alden Ehrenreicht touching actress Lara Peake’s pregnant stomach. She is dressed in a wedding dress

Brave New World – Alden Ehrenreich and Lara Peake © NBC


Directors: Owen Harris, Aoife McArdle, Andrij Parekh, Craig Zisk
Writers: David Wiener, Grant Morrison, Brian Taylor, Aldous Huxley (novel)
Producer: Chloe Moss
Starring: Stuart Walker, Jeanie Hackman, Summer-Joules
Production Company: Amblin Television, NBC Universal Content Studios
Kent Locations Used: Dungeness Estate and Old Lifeboat Station, Dungeness, Lydd Camp

Brave New World is a new eight part TV series is an adaptation of Aldous Huxley’s dystopian novel of the same name. It is set in America 200 or 300 years from now and explores the lives of two citizens who decide to explore life beyond the strictures of their society by travelling to the ‘Savage Lands’ where they become entangled in a violent rebellion.

The screenplay was co-written by David Wiener (Flesh and Bone (2015), Fear the Walking Dead), Grant Morrison (Happy!, Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay ) and Brian Taylor (Mom and Dad , Crank ).

Brave New World was directed by a collaboration of directors Owen Harris (Black Mirror, Troy: Fall of a City ), Aoife McArdle (Kissing Candice), U2: Every Breaking Wave , Andrij Parekh (Watchmen, The Zookeeper’s Wife ), Craig Zisk (The Looming Tower ), Brooklyn Nine-Nine) and produced by Chloe Moss (Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones , The Letter for the King ).

The series stars Alden Ehrenreich (Solo: A Star Wars Story , Hail, Caesar! ), Harry Lloyd (The Theory of Everything , Jane Eyre ) and Kylie Bunbury (When They See Us , Tut ). Demi Moore (Corporate Animals,  G.I. Jane ) also stars in the series.

Production visited Kent which features as part of the Savage Lands, including Lydd Camp and Dungeness Estate. The Old Lifeboat Station there doubles as John and Linda’s house.

Dungeness Estate is a unique location which includes ramshackle huts as well as two lighthouses, an historic railway station, two pubs and artist galleries along with a nuclear power station. Dungeness has a derelict look to some of the areas making for an ideal location to film a dystopian series. The Old Lifeboat Station is a Historic Grade II listed building recently celebrating its centenary. This imposing building is almost 46 metres high to the top of the weathervane and is constructed of engineering bricks with sandstone inner walls.

Lydd camp is located near to Dungeness and is an MOD firing range. Previous projects that have filmed at Dungeness include Ginger and Rosa (2012) and Back to Life – Series 1 (2019).

All eight episodes of Brave New World will be released on Sky on Friday 2nd October 2020.

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

The Great (2020)

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Catherine the Great (Elle Fanning) and Peter III (Nicholas Hoult) dancing in a ballroom in historical costumes, with candlelight in the background.

Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult in The Great (2020) © Lionsgate Entertainment

Writer: Tony McNamara, Tess Morris, Gretel Vella, James Wood
Director: Colin Bucksey, Bert & Bertie, Ben Chessell, Geeta Patel, Matt Shakman
Starring: Elle Fanning, Nicholas Hoult, Phoebe Fox, Gwilym Lee, Sacha Dhawan
Production Company: Media Rights Capital, Thruline Entertainment, Echo Lake Entertainment
Kent Locations Used: Hever Castle, St Clere Estate

This upcoming 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.

This ten-part historical drama was written by Tony McNamara (The Favourite, Ashby) Tess Morris (Casual, Man Up), Gretel Vella (Doctor Doctor) and James Wood (The Gamechangers, Quacks). The TV series was produced by Media Rights Capital, Thruline Entertainment and Echo Lake Entertainment  and features episodes directed by Colin Bucksey (The Affair, Breaking Bad, Ray Donovan), Bert & Bertie (Troop Zero, Kidding), Ben Chessell (The Only Person in the World, Giri/Haji), Geeta Patel (Meet the Patels, Dead to Me) and Matt Shakman (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Good Wife).

The Great’s lead cast are  Elle Fanning (Super 8,  Maleficent, Mary Shelley) as Catherine the Great, Nicholas Hoult (Tolkien, Mad Max: Fury Road, Warm Bodies) as Peter III of Russia and Phoebe Fox (Close to the Enemy, The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death), Gwilym Lee (Bohemian Rhapsody, Midsomer Murders) and Sacha Dhawan (Iron Fist, The History Boys) in supporting roles.

Two locations in Kent were utilised as rich historical backdrops in this international production.

The Italian Loggia on Hever Castle lake doubles as a ballroom of an Eastern European house where Peter III of Russia (Nicholas Hoult) visits. During filming production also visited the fields and stables of St Clere Estate to film various battle scenes.

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 upcoming TV series The Third Day.

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).

The Great will be available to watch on StarzPlay from Thursday 18th June 2020.

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

Gangs of London (2020- )

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Production poster showing the London skyline and four actors in suits above it in the rainy clouds. Sky Original Gangs of London written in white

Gangs of London (2019) © Sky UK Limited

Writers: Peter Berry, Claire Wilson, Carl Joos, Lauren Sequeira, Gareth Evans, Matt Flannery
Directors: Corin Hardy, Xavier Gens, Gareth Evans
Starring: Joe Cole, Colm Meaney and Michelle Fairley
Production Company: Pulse Films
Kent Locations Used: St Clere Estate near Sevenoaks, Dartford

Gangs of London tells the story of a city torn apart by power struggles, and the sudden vacuum that arises when the head of London’s most notorious crime family, played by Colm Meaney (Tolkien (2019)), is assassinated. Supporting cast include Joe Cole (Peaky Blinders (2016-2017) and Michelle Fairley (Game of Thrones (2011 – 2013)).

This brand-new Sky original by Pulse Films is a nine-part drama about the inner workings of the largest criminal organisation in London and was created by visionary, award-winning filmmaker Gareth Evans (The Raid: Redemption (2011)) and his creative partner Matt Flannery. The series is directed by Gareth Evans, Corin Hardy (The Nun (2018)) and Xavier Gens (Budapest (2018).

During filming production visited St Clere Estate to stage a Traveller site which is the base of a rival gang. A short driving scene was filmed on Pilgrim’s Way in Dartford. The Dartford Marshes border the Thames by the Queen Elizabeth II bridge and feature as the landing place for a drug delivery by a group of Turkish gang members.

St Clere Estate is set in 2,800 acres of rolling Kent countryside and offers stunning views of the North Downs. The estate features formal gardens, a meadow, ploughed fields, an orangery and a temple by the lake. Previous productions to film at St Clere Estate include Future Tense: The Story of H.G. Wells (2016) and Road Games (2016).

Dartford has a rich industrial heritage and boasts one of the largest shopping centres in Europe, Bluewater. It is a popular film location and recent productions to film here include The Corrupted (2019) and The Escape (2018).

 

Gangs of London will be available to stream on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV from 23rd April 2020.

 

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

 

 

 

 

Kate & Koji (2020)

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Stars Brenda Blethyn wearing an apron and Jimmy Akingbola wearing a suit, standing in front of a green cafe.

Kate & Koji starring Brenda Blethyn and Jimmy Akingbola © Hat Trick Productions


Writers: Andy Hamilton, Guy Jenkin
Director: Ben Kellett
Starring: Brenda Blethyn, Jimmy Akingbola, Blake Harrison, Barbara Flynn, Meera Syal
Production Company: Hat Trick Productions, ITV Studios
Kent Locations Used: Romney House, School Road, Charing

Kate & Koji is a six-part TV sitcom about a working-class woman played by Brenda Blethyn  (Vera (2011-2020), Pride & Prejudice (2005)) who runs an old-fashioned café in a neglected seaside town. Kate develops an unexpected and sparky friendship with Koji an asylum-seeking African doctor played by Jimmy Akingbola (In the Long Run (2018-19), Holby City (2006-2016)). 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 (2008-2010)) is often on hand to act as peacemaker. Barbara Flynn (The Durrells (2016-2019)) also stars in Kate and Koji as Kate’s lifelong nemesis Councillor Bone, and Meera Syal (The Split (2018)) 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. 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.

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).

Kate and Koji is due to air on ITV Wednesday 18th March 2020 at 8pm.

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

 

 

Belgravia (2020)

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The cast of Belgravia standing in a row wearing period costumes in front of a brown backdrop.

Belgravia (2020) Episode One © ITV

Creator / Writer: Julian Fellowes
Directors: John Alexander
Starring: Adam James, Alice Eve
Production Company: Carnival Film and Television
Kent Locations Used: The Historic Chatham Dockyard

New ITV drama Belgravia, based on a book by Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey (2010-2015) and Gosford Park (2001)), is a story of the secrets and scandals amongst the upper echelon of London society in the 19th Century.

The six part series stars Tamsin Greig (Elementary (2019), Harriet Walter (The Spanish Princess (2019), Alice Eve (Iron Fist (2018) and Philip Glenister (Living the Dream (2019) and the story begins at a legendary ball hosted by the Duchess of Richmond on the fateful evening of the Battle of Waterloo. This sets in motion a series of events that will have consequences for decades to come as secrets unravel behind the porticoed doors of London’s grandest postcode.

Executive producer is Gareth Neame (Downton Abbey (2010-2015) and director is John Alexander (Jamestown (2017)).

Production visited The Historic Chatham Dockyard and filmed on Anchor Wharf quayside, the Tarred Yarn Store as a Pimm’s Chop House and the streets around the Ropery to stand in for both a London market and the streets around Girton’s Mill.

The Historic Chatham Dockyard is a historic tourist attraction on the site of a former Royal Naval Dockyard and has been the location for several recent period dramas including Pennyworth (2019) and World On Fire Series 1 (2019).

Belgravia begins on ITV on Sunday 15 March 2020 at 9pm.

Click here for the Episode One trailer from ITV press centre

 

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

Flesh and Blood (2020)

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The main 8 cast members sitting on a bench on the beach posing for the camera with the sea behind.

Flesh and Blood (2020) © ITV

Director: Louise Hooper
Writer: Sarah Williams
Starring: Russell Tovey, Claudie Blakley, Lydia Leonard, Francesca Annis, Stephen Rea, Imelda Staunton
Production Company: ITV
Kent Locations Used: Farningham near Sevenoaks, Greatstone Beach (Romney Sands)

Flesh and Blood, a new four-part series for ITV, is a modern story of three adult siblings, exploring universal themes of relationships, trust, loyalty and love against in aftermath of a tragic crime.

Russell Tovey, (Years and Years (2019)), Claudie Blakley (Manhunt (2019)) and Lydia Leonard (Gentleman Jack (2019)) lead the cast as the siblings Jake, Helen and Natalie. The series also stars Francesca Annis (King of Thieves (2018)) as their recently widowed mother with Stephen Rea (Dickensian) as her new love interest and Imelda Staunton (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)) as their neighbour.

Also joining the cast are Sharon Small (Trust Me), Lara Rossi (Cheat), Keir Charles (Love Actually), Vincent Regan (Victoria), David Bamber (Valkyrie), Stephanie Langton (Ransom) and Clara Indrani (Vera).

The drama was created and written by Kent resident Sarah Williams, whose previous credits include The Long Song (2018), Case Sensitive (2012) and Poppy Shakespeare (2008). Flesh and Blood is directed by BAFTA nominee Louise Hooper (Cheat (2019), Cold Feet (2017)).

During filming production visited Farningham, near Sevenoaks, to film The Manor on the High Street as three separate location. Farningham nestles on the old London to Folkestone Road astride the River Darent. Scheduled as a Conservation Area, it includes many notable buildings and historic sites, including Farningham Mill, the site of a Roman villa and Farningham Woods SSSI and Nature Reserve.

Production also visited Greatstone Beach (Romney Sands) during filming. Greatstone is part of 26 miles of beaches in the Folkestone and Hythe District and the Dunes and Beach between Littlestone-on Sea and Lydd-on-Sea, often also referred to as Romney Sands is an area of SSSI.

Flesh and Blood will air on ITV over four consecutive nights starting on Monday 24th February 2020 at 9pm.

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

 

Call the Midwife Series 1 – 9 (2012 – 2020)

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Nurse Lucille Anderson (Leonie Elliott), Nurse Trixie (Helen George), Nurse Crane (Linda Bassett) Valerie Dyer (Jennifer Kirby) © BBC: Nurse Lucille Anderson (Leonie Elliott), Nurse Trixie (Helen George), Nurse Crane (Linda Bassett) Valerie Dyer (Jennifer Kirby) dressed in their midwives costumes holding babies in a maternity hospital

Pictured: Nurse Lucille Anderson (Leonie Elliott), Nurse Trixie (Helen George), Nurse Crane (Linda Bassett) Valerie Dyer (Jennifer Kirby) © BBC

Writer: Heidi Thomas
Starring: Vanessa Redgrave, Jessica Raine, Pam Ferris, Miranda Hart, Helen George, Jenny Agutter, Laura Main, Judy Parfitt, Stephen McGann, Cliff Parisi, Ben Caplan, Jennifer Kirby, Leonie Elliot, Linda Bassett, Annabelle Apsion
Production Company: Neal Street Productions for BBC
Kent Locations Used: The Historic Dockyard Chatham

Much-loved BBC period drama Call the Midwife is back for a ninth series. The TV drama follows the lives of nuns and midwives working in the East End of London during the 1950s and 60s.

The TV drama is based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth which chart the life of a newly qualified midwife who works alongside midwives and nuns at a nursing convent, where they face many medical problems and struggles in Poplar, a very deprived area of London. The opening episode of the first series aired on Sunday 15th January 2012 on BBC One and attracted over 10 million viewers. The series of eight episodes each have aired year-on-year, along with an annual Christmas special broadcast every Christmas Day since 2012. It is also broadcast in the United States on the PBS network. Series 10 is currently in production and due to air in 2021. Neal Street Productions is currently commissioned by the BBC for up to Series 11, which is due to air in 2022.

The early series featured actress Jessica Raine as the main protagonist Nurse Jenny Lee with leading supporting cast Helen George as Nurse Trixie Franklin, Pam Ferris as Sister Evangelina, Judy Parfitt as Sister Monica Joan and Miranda Hart playing Chummy Browne led by the calm guidance of Sister Julienne (Jenny Agutter). Vanessa Redgrave narrates the series as mature Jennifer Worth.

The more recent series features now familiar faces Nurse Valerie Dyer (Jennifer Kirby), Nurse Lucille Anderson (Leonie Elliott), Nurse Phyllis Crane (Linda Bassett) and Nurse Trixie Franklin (Helen George) . Supporting cast includes long standing characters Doctor Turner (Stephen McGann) and his wife Shelagh Turner (Laura Main), Fred Buckle (Cliff Parisi) and Violet Buckle (Annabelle Apsion).

Series 9 (aired from 4th January 2020) is set in the year 1965 and across eight episodes we see the midwives dealing with cases involving cancer, diptheria, dementia, fistula and homelessness as well as a changing political agenda that threatens the survival of Nonnatus House.

During all nine seasons Call the Midwife has made use of the settings of The Historic Dockyard Chatham to stand in for the Victorian buildings of Poplar in East London. The Fitted Rigging House doubles for the Lisbon Buildings and Rakesby Street Homeless Shelter. Meanwhile, Admiral’s Offices exteriors feature as Poplar Maternity Home and the London Hospital. The Tarred Yarn Store has made regular appearances as a Boxing Ring, Chinese Laundry and derelict building. HMS Cavalier, a WW2 destroyer ship and The National Destroyer Memorial, has also featured playing the role of a Russian ship. The Commissioner’s House gardens set the scene for a famous engagement scene in one episode, while Anchor’s Wharf and the Dockyard Railway and steam train have regularly appeared for Poplar Docks scenes. The Victorian Ropery even appears in one episode as a working ropemakers as well as various cellars and tunnels around the building.

 

Three characters from call the midwife looking out to sea on a bridge at the Historic Dockyard Chatham with their blue and red midwife uniforms on.

Image of Call The Midwife Nurses ©The Historic Dockyard Chatham

 

An image of an exploded bomb set, a pile of rubble and a sign saying KEEP OFF

Behind the Scenes: Special Effects filming of Call the Midwife (2014) at The Historic Dockyard Chatham © BBC (Click on image for video clip).

The Historic Dockyard Chatham hosts Official Call the Midwife Location tours. For more information see here.

The Historic Dockyard Chatham was established in the mid-16th century and is located on the River Medway. A location with an extensive history, evident through its numerous buildings and exhibitions open to the public. Today Chatham is the only one of the original four Royal Navy Ropeyards to remain in operation and, together with its related buildings, forms the finest integrated group of 18th century manufacturing buildings in Britain. The site offers maritime, industrial, Georgian and Victorian architecture and cobbled streets, an ideal set for many film productions. Recent period dramas to film at the Dockyard include Belgravia (2020), World On Fire Series 1 (2019) and Pennyworth Series 1 (2019) to name but a few.

Call the Midwife Series 9 aired from Sunday 4th January 2020 on BBC One at 8pm. All nine series are available to view on BBC iPlayer, Netflix and Amazon Prime.

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

 

 

 

In the Long Run: Series 2 (2019)

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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 Filming locations: Nell’s Café Gravesend

In the Long Run 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  26th October 2019 on Sky One.

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

World On Fire Series 1 (2019)

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Actor Jonah Hauer wearing a grey suit riding a bike with Zofia Wichlacz wearing a pink top and skirt sat in front of him. Cycling along a cobbled street with an army parade with horses behind them.

Zofia Wichlacz and Jonah Hauer-King in World On Fire ©BBC

 

Writer: Peter Bowker
Directors: Chanya Button, Adam Smith, Andy Wilson, Thomas Napper
Starring: Jonah Hauer-King, Zofia Wichlacz, Yrsa Daley-Ward, Helen Hunt, Sean Bean and Arthur Darvill
Production Company: BBC One, Mammoth Screen
Kent Locations Used: Historic Dockyard Chatham

Upcoming BBC seven-part drama series World On Fire, is a coming of age story, set against the harsh conditions of World War II.

Written by Peter Bowker (Occupation, Eric & Ernie) directed by Chanya Button (Vita & Virginia), Adam Smith (Trespass Against Us), Andy Wilson (Cracker) and Thomas Napper (Jawbone). The drama series centers around the lives of ordinary people affected by the war starring Jonah Hauer-King (Postcards from London, Little Women) as Army soldier Harry Chase, Zofia Wichlacz (Warsaw ’44, Amok) as Kasia Tomaszeski and Yrsa Daley-Ward (White Colour Black, Der Koch) as Connie. Helen Hunt (As Good as It Gets, Mad About You) plays the role of an American news reporter Nancy Campbell based in Berlin, while Sean Bean (The Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones) is bus conductor and peace activist Douglas Bennett.

HMS Cavalier at The Historic Dockyard in Chatham was used as a major filming location in Episode 3 of the series playing the role of HMS Exeter during the first Naval battle of World War Two: Battle of River Plate.

Set on the River Medway, The Historic Dockyard Chatham has become a popular film location due to its unique Georgian and Victorian architecture, maritime environment, dry dock, cobbled streets, industrial buildings and collection of preserved naval vessels from different periods of the Royal Navy. The Dockyard has previously featured as a filming location set around the 1940s and 50s in a number of both British and international productions including Summer of Rockets (2019), The Halcyon (2018) and The Crown (2016).

The first episode of World on Fire will air on 9pm, Sunday 29th September, BBC1 and will also be available on Amazon Prime after the series has aired.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top Boy – Series 3 (2019)

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Group of four men, two sitting and two leaning against a grey parked car in front of a block of garages. All men wearing jackets and jeans.

Top Boy Series 3 © Channel4

 

Writer: Ronan Bennett
Starring: Ashley Walters and Kane Robinson, Malcom Kamulete and Shone Romulus
Produced by: Cowboy Films
Kent Locations Used: Margate, Ramsgate and Gravesend

Top Boy is a British drama series revolving around the life of Dushane (Ashley Walters), leader of an underground drug operation, and his friend Sully (Kane Robinson). Their aim is to become the richest men in town and are joined by troubled teen Ra’Nell (Malcolm Kamulete.

Series 2 ended in 2013, with those loyal to Dushane paying a high price for their involvement in the drug business. Axed by Channel 4 in 2013, the show soon found a new home on Netflix and series 3 will be produced by none other than rapper Drake, a long-time fan of the series.

The series was written by Ronan Bennet (Gunpowder, Hidden) and stars Ashley Walters (Figures of Speech, Bulletproof) and Kane Robinson (Tower Block, Point Blank

Filming took place in Margate at Walpole Bay and Fulsam Rock Beach and nearby streets including Athelstan Road. Production also visited Ramsgate, where they filmed at Jacob’s Ladder, outside the Rose of England pub on the High Street and Ramsgate Train Station.

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).

In addition, Gordon Place in Gravesend played the role of the fictional ‘Summerhouse Estate’ in London.

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. The Gravesend area has previously welcomed film productions such as Killing Eve (2018), The Escape (2018), and Doctor Strange (2017).

Top Boy will be released on Netflix on Friday 13th September 2019.

 

 

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