The Nevers (2021)

Laura Donnelly and Ann Skelly are standing arm in arm looking into the distance. They are dressed in Victorian clothes in a London street with washing hanging behind them.

Laura Donnelly and Ann Skelly in The Nevers – Hanged (2021) © HBO / Keith Bernstein

Creator and Director: Joss Whedon
Writer: Joss Whedon, Melissa Iqbal, Kevin Lau, Madhuri Shekar, Jane Espenson
Starring: Laura Donnelly, Olivia Williams, Ben Chaplin, Eleanor Tomlinson, James Norton, Pip Torrens, James Norton, Nick Frost, Denis O’Hare
Production Company: HBO
Kent Locations Used: The Historic Dockyard Chatham, Fort Amherst

This 12-part, direct to TV series is an epic science fiction drama about a gang of Victorian women who find themselves with unusual abilities, relentless enemies and a mission that might change the world.

The Nevers (2021) was co-written by Joss Whedon (Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Melissa Iqbal (Humans (2016), Origin), Kevin Lau (Lovecraft Country, Damnation), Madhuri Shekar (Sister Act 3, Evil Eye), and Buffy co-writer Jane Espenson (Once Upon a Time, Game of Thrones). The series was also directed by Joss Whedon. This is not the first time Whedon has filmed in Kent, as he filmed at Dover Castle for Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015).

Laura Donnelly (Outlander, Britannia (2021)) leads the cast as Amalia True, the most reckless, hero of her time. Olivia Williams (Victoria and Abdul (2017), The Halcyon (2017)) plays the role of Lavinia Bidlow, wealthy spinster and champion of The Touched, who funds the orphanage where Amalia lives. Eleanor Tomlinson (The Outlaws, Poldark) plays Mary Brighton, a gentle but resilient woman who pursues her dream of singing on stage despite a disappointing career.

Ben Chaplin (The Thin Red Line, The Children Act) is the deeply moral Detective Frank Mundi, a man caught between the powerful and The Touched. Pip Torrens (The Crown Series 1 – 6 (2016-2023), Roadkill) is the unflappable Lord Massen, a former general determined to protect the established order from The Touched.  Nick Frost (The Boat that Rocked (2009), Shaun of the Dead) portrays Declan Orrun, aka the Beggar King, a low-level crime lord. Denis O’Hare (American Horror Story, Dallas Buyers Club) plays Dr. Edmund Hague, a gifted American surgeon who uses his skills in the most brutal way possible and James Norton (Grantchester (2014), Little Women) plays pansexual posh boy, Hugo Swann.

In 2019, production visited The Historic Dockyard Chatham, making use of multiple areas at the location as London doubles for Victorian streets including the Ropery exterior, Anchor Wharf, Stables and Officers’ Terrace. In Episode One a stunt scene filmed on Ropery Street appears with masked horsemen chasing the protagonists Amalia True, Penance Adair (Ann Skelly) and Myrtle Haplisch (Viola Prettejohn). The rear of the Ropery building also stands in as a theatre stage door entrance. The Stables houses stand in for Dr Horatio’s (Zackary Momoh) home and Officer’s Terrace stands in for the London street where Maladie (Amy Manson) is led away to an “asylum for the psychologically deranged”. The Historic Dockyard Chatham also provided a unit base for cast and crew during filming at Fort Amherst. Production also filmed at Fort Amherst to depict colonial scenes for the second part of the series, which unfortunately never aired.

Various locations in the Medway area provided unit base facilities to support The Nevers cast and crew during filming. The Dockside Retail Outlet Chatham and The Medway Campus of Greenwich University provided car parking and Gillingham Football Club provided a base for Supporting Artists. The Historic Dockyard Chatham provided unit base facilities in the exterior car parks and on Anchor Wharf, while the Fitted Rigging House was utilised for crowd holding between scenes.

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, particularly for period dramas looking for London street doubles. Recent period drama TV productions include Pennyworth Series 1 (2019), Belgravia (2020) and The Crown Series 1 – 6 (2016-2023).

The first half of The Nevers (2021) was made available to stream on NOWTV on Monday 17th May 2021. Unfortunately, the series was axed before the second half was released.

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


Too Close (2021)

Connie Mortenson (played by Denise Gough) and psychiatrist Dr Emma Robertson (played by Emily Watson) stand side by side looking to camera with a dark background, the mood of the image is sinister.

Too Close (2021) © ITV images

Writer: Clara Salaman
Director: Bruce Goodison
Starring: Emily Watson, Denise Gough, Eileen Davies
Production Company: Snowed-In Productions Ltd, All3Media for ITV
Kent Locations Used: Kingsferry Bridge – Isle of Sheppey, Swale

Too Close (2021) is a psychological drama for ITV starring Emily Watson. The three-part mini‑series tells the story of a forensic psychiatrist who must assess a criminal suspect – only to fall victim to their manipulative nature.

Dedicated forensic psychiatrist, Dr Emma Robinson played by Emily Watson (The Third Day (2020), Chernobyl) is sent to assess Connie Mortensen played by Denise Gough (Juliet, Naked (2018), Guerrilla) who is on trial for a terrible crime. When Connie quickly gains insight into Emma’s deepest insecurities and starts to brutally exploit them, their sessions become a complex psychological game. Eileen Davies (Grantchester (2014), Peterloo (2018)) also stars as Julia de Cadenet.

Too Close is based on the book of the same name, written by Clara Salaman under the pseudonym Natalie Daniels, and is directed by Susan Tully (Lark Rise to Candleford, Line of Duty) for Snowed-In Productions for All3Media.

During filming, production visited Kent to film a stunt sequence on Kingsferry Bridge, a combined road and railway bridge that links the Isle of Sheppey to mainland towns Sittingbourne and Kemsley. The maximum bridge lifting height is 84 feet and when reached a claxon sound is heard to confirm the bridge is at full height. The Kingsferry Bridge is no longer as busy as it once was, traffic now able to use the New Sheppey Crossing Bridge. Previous productions to film on the bridge include Kiss Me First (2018).

Too Close is due for release on ITV on Monday 12th April at 9pm.

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


Ammonite (2020)

Image of two faces overlapping and facing one another - Actress Saoirse Ronan playing Charlotte Murchison and Kate Winslet playing Mary Anning.

Ammonite movie poster
© EF Neon

Writer: Francis Lee
Director: Francis Lee
Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Kate Winslet, Fiona Shaw, Gemma Jones.
Production Company: See-Saw Films, British Film Institute, BBC Films
Kent Locations Used: Romney House, School Road, Charing, The Historic Dockyard Chatham

Ammonite (2020) is a film loosely based on the life of the acclaimed English fossil hunter Mary Anning (Kate Winslet) in 1840s England. Widely known for her contribution to prehistoric geology, she made ground-breaking Jurassic period discoveries as she spent time investigating the cliffs at Lyme Regis and Charmouth in Dorset. Whilst the film addresses Anning’s professional life, it also explores her private affairs and her struggles to make ends meet.

The film was written and directed by Francis Lee (God’s Own Country, The Farmer’s Wife) and Kate Winslet (Titanic, The Reader) stars as Anning alongside Saoirse Ronan (Little Women, Lady Bird) as her fellow geologist and companion Mrs Charlotte Murchison.

Kate Winslet as Mary Anning and Saoirse Ronan as Charlotte Murchison in Ammonite walking along a beach in Lyme Regis. Kate wears a blue coat and brown frock, her hair is plainly tied back and she carries a leather satchel across her shoulder. Saoirse wears a bonnet and black dress and walks behind. Waves are breaking behind them onto the beach and the cliffs are shrouded in mist..

Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan in Ammonite (2020) © See-Saw / British Film Institute / BBC / Cross City / Stage 6

A couple of scenes for the film were shot in Kent. Romney House, a grade II listed building in Charing, was used to stand in for a Lyme Regis property belonging to Dr. Lieberson (Alec Secareanu) where Mary and Charlotte attend an evening party. A further scene was filmed at The Historic Dockyard Chatham, in which Mary Anning alights a boat just arrived to London Docks from Lyme Regis.

Charing is a quaint, traditional and beautiful village in the Ashford district of Kent and is situated on the historic Pilgrim’s way that stretches from London to Canterbury. The high street has many old whitewashed buildings comprised of brick and tile, some also exhibiting exposed timber frames. It is also home to the famous building the Archbishop’s Palace, a large manor house historically belonging to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

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. The site offers maritime, industrial, Georgian and Victorian architecture and cobbled streets, an ideal set for many film productions. Recent feature films that have shot dockside scenes at the Dockyard include Red Joan (2019) and The Mercy (2018).

Ammonite is scheduled for release on Amazon Prime Box Office on Friday 26th March 2021.

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


Unforgotten (2021)

The image shows head shots of actors Sanjeev Bhaskar and Nicola Walker looking into the distance. Sanjeev wears a black coat and Nicola wears a red coat.

Sanjeev Bhaskar and Nicola Walker in Unforgotten (2020) Series 4 © Alex Fletcher BT TV News

Writer: Chris Lang
Director: Andy Wilson
Starring: Nicola Walker, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Sheila Hancock, Susan Lynch, Phaldut Sharma, Liz White, Andy Nyman, Clare Calbraith, Lucy Speed
Production company: Mainstreet Pictures
Kent Locations Used: Rochester City, Rochester Cathedral, Medway Rowing Club, Strood

Unforgotten (2021) is a murder mystery series set in London, that follows two detectives, DCI Cassie Stuart (Nicola Walker) and DI Sunny Khan (Sanjeev Bhaskar) as they investigate and attempt to unravel unsolved crimes. Series 4 kicks off with the discovery of a thirty-year-old corpse, the perfect cold case for the detectives to solve.

Series Four was once again written by award winning Chris Lang (Innocent, A Mother’s Son) and directed by Andy Wilson (Cracker). It stars Nicola Walker (Spooks, Four Weddings and a Funeral) as DCI Cassie Stuart and Sanjeev Bhaskar (Yesterday, Absolutely Anything) as DI Sunny Khan. Co-stars are set to include Sheila Hancock (The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas), Susan Lynch (Killing Eve), Phaldut Sharma (EastEnders) and Andy Nyman (Judy).

Filming took place in historic Rochester City, featuring Rochester Cathedral. Another feature filmed in the city at the Royal Victoria & Bull Hotel was Last Orders (2002). Standing above the River Medway, in the centre of the city,  Rochester castle  has featured in Bollywood feature, Veer (2010) and the Dicken’s adaptation of The Mystery of Edwin Drood (2012).

The production also visited neighbouring Strood, across the River Medway, a popular location for those who enjoy water sports, fishing or even a boat trip along the river.

Series 4 of Unforgotten aired on ITV on Monday 22nd February 2021.

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


Devils (2021)

Patrick Dempsey as Dominic Morgan & Alessandro Borghi as Massimo Ruggero are walking down a stairway outside with skyscrapers in the background.

Patrick Dempsey as Dominic Morgan & Alessandro Borghi as Massimo Ruggero
© Antonello&Montesi

Writer: Elena Buccacio, Mario Ruggeri, Alessandro Sermoneta, Ben Harris, Chris Lunt, Michael A Walker
Director: Nick Hurran, Jan Michelini
Starring: Patrick Dempsey, Alessandro Borghi, Laia Costa
Production Company: Lux Vide, Sky Italia
Kent Locations Used: Kingsgate Bay in Broadstairs

Based on the novel by Guido Maria Brera, Devils (2021) is a brand new TV series set in the London Offices of a large investment bank where Massimo Ruggero (Alessandro Borghi) discovers a worldwide financial conspiracy. Will he side with the perpetrators or expose the fraud?

The writing of the show is shared amongst several writes, including Elena Buccacio (Magie and Bianca Fashion Friends), Mario Ruggeri (Don Matteo), Alessandro Sermoneta (Once Upon a Time The City of Fools), Ben Harris (Dark Heart), Chris Lunt (Prey) and Michael A Walker (Primevil). It is directed by Nick Hurran (Sherlock), and Jan Michelini (Medici). Starring Patrick Dempsey (Grey’s Anatomy, Bridget Jones’ Baby), Alessandro Borghi (Romulus and Remus: The First King), and Laia Costa (Cities, Only You).

Production visited the Kingsgate Bay in Broadstairs to film a dialogue scene on the clifftops.

Broadstairs is a coastal town on the Isle of Thanet in the East Kent district. Productions that have also visited this area include and The Tunnel (2016) and Humans (2016).

Devils was released on Sky Atlantic and NowTV on Wednesday 17th February 2021.

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


Bridgerton (2020)

The Bridgerton family stand in a group on the steps outside their Regency home

Bridgerton (L to R) Florence Hunt as Hyacinth Bridgerton, Luke Newton as Colin Bridgerton, Ruth Gemmell as Lady Violet Bridgerton, Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton, Will Tilston as Gregory Bridgerton and Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton © LIAM DANIEL / NETFLIX 2020

Writers: Chris Van Dusen, Sarah Dollard, Janet Lin, Abby McDonald, Julia Quinn
Directors: Sheree Folkson, Alrick Riley, Julie Anne Robinson, Tom Verica
Starring: Phoebe Dynevor, Regé-Jean Page, Golda Rosheuvel, Jonathan Bailey, Adjoa Andoh, Julie Andrews
Production Company: Shondaland
Kent Locations Used: The Historic Dockyard Chatham

Bridgerton (2020-) is a period drama inspired by Julia Quinn’s historic romance novels about a large powerful family, the Bridgeton’s and their closest acquaintances. Set against the backdrop of Regency England, this eight-part series is a saga of lust, greed and betrayal. The plot will be centred around the Bridgerton family as they navigate the “marriage mart” in high society London.

Bridgerton was adapted by Chris Van Dusen (ScandalGrey’s Anatomy) and written with Sarah Dollard (Love Me, Neighbours), Janet Lin (The Orville, The Night Shift), Joy C. Mitchell (The Letter for the King, Deutschland 86), Abby McDonald and Julia Quinn.

The large ensemble cast include Regé-Jean Page (Mortal Engines, Waterloo Road) as the Duke of Hastings Phoebe Dynevor (DickensianSnatch) , Adjoa Andoh (Liar (2017-2020)Fractured), Julie Andrews (The Sound of Music, The Princess Diaries) and Jonathan Bailey (BroadchurchW1A).

The production visited The Historic Dockyard Chatham during filming. The exterior of the Ropery and Officer’s Terrace were used as stand ins for various London streets and the Tarred Yarn Store was transformed into a boxing club. No 3 Mezzanine stands in as a venue for a public Boxing match.  Meanwhile, Commissioner’s House Garden stands in as the Bridgerton family garden for several scenes.

The Historic Dockyard Chatham is located on the River Medway and has become a popular filming location in Kent. Features include Georgian and Victorian buildings with cobbled streets, a maritime environment and a dry dock. Previous productions that have filmed there include: Call The Midwife (2012-2020), Pennyworth (2019) and Belgravia (2020).

Series 1 of Bridgerton will be released on Netflix on Friday 25th December 2020.

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


Brave New World (2020)

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)
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 (2020) 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, Fear the Walking Dead), Grant Morrison (Happy!, Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay) and Brian Taylor (Mom and DadCrank).

Brave New World was directed by a collaboration of directors Owen Harris (Black Mirror, Troy: Fall of a City ), Aoife McArdle (Kissing Candice), 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 AnimalsG.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.


Belgravia (2020)

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: Tamsin Greig, Alice Eve, Philip Glenister
Production Company: Carnival Film and Television
Kent Locations Used: The Historic Chatham Dockyard

New ITV drama Belgravia (2020), based on a book by Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey, Gosford Park), 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, Harriet Walter (The Spanish Princess)), Alice Eve (Iron Fist) and Philip Glenister (Living the Dream) 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.

The Executive Producer is Gareth Neame (Downton Abbey) and Director is John Alexander (Jamestown).

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 15th March 2020 at 9pm.

 

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


Flesh and Blood (2020)

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 (2020), 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), Claudie Blakley (Manhunt) and Lydia Leonard (Gentleman Jack) lead the cast as the siblings Jake, Helen and Natalie. The series also stars Francesca Annis (King of Thieves) 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) 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, Case Sensitive and Poppy Shakespeare. Flesh and Blood is directed by BAFTA nominee Louise Hooper (Cheat, Cold Feet).

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.


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.