Silent Witness – Series 26 (2023)

Rhiannon May as Cara, David Caves as Jack Hodgson, Emilia Fox as Nikki Alexander, Aki Omoshaybi as Gabriel and Alastair Michael as Velvy positioned above an image of the London City skyline, a train coming out of a tunnel and a blue tent.

Silent Witness Series 26 (2023) © BBC

Creator: Nigel McCrery
Starring:
Emilia Fox, David Caves, Aki Omoshaybi, Alastair Michael, Rhiannon May
Production Company:
BBC, A+E Networks, Cipango Productions Audiovisuelles
Kent Locations Used:
New Sheppey Crossing, Kingsferry Bridge, Leysdown-on-Sea, Minster-on-Sea, Shellness, Warden

Silent Witness (2023) is a long-running BBC crime drama focusing on a group of forensic pathology experts and their investigations.

Originally created by Nigel McCrery (New Tricks, Born and Bred), Series 26 sees the return of Emilia Fox (The Carer (2016), The Tunnel (2016)) as Dr Nikki Alexander and David Caves (Jackie, Widow’s Walk) as Jack Hodgson. Aki Omoshaybi (Queens of Mystery (2019-2021), The Riot Club) joins the cast as Dr Gabriel Folukoya as well as Alastair Michael (Snatch, Ridley Road) as Velvy Schur and Rhiannon May returning in a more regular role as Cara Connelly.

For Series 26, production visited Kent to shoot in a variety of locations on the Isle of Sheppey for the final two episodes of the series, doubling as the fictional Southbay Island. The Kingsferry Bridge features throughout Episodes 9 & 10 as the bridge to Southbay Island, The Rose and Crown Pub car park in Leysdown-on-Sea appears in both episodes doubling as a caravan park called Harbour Fields, and a private house on The Leas in Minster-on-Sea stars as the house of the murdered Carol Laing (Melissa Batchelor). Other locations featured include Leysdown beach, Shellness beach, Minster beach, a section of land underneath the New Sheppey Crossing, woodland in Warden Springs Caravan Park and Warden beach.

Leysdown is situated at the Eastern end of the Isle of Sheppey. With access to a sandy beach and a slew of arcades, it is one of the largest holiday parks in Kent. Previous productions to have filmed there include Kiss Me First (2018), End of the F***ing World (2017) and Strawberry Fields (2012).

Minster is a large village on the Isle of Sheppey which has a sand and shingle beach, shops and an abbey.

Shellness beach is an SSSI mostly sandy beach with groynes and WWII lookout in a very remote part of Sheppey. Great Expectations (2012) also filmed on the beach and in the nature reserve.

Warden is a small village on the north-eastern coast of the Isle of Sheppey. Immediately northwest of the village and continuing towards the west is Warden Point, a pinnacle of eroding land and muddy foreshore. The pillboxes there are very popular, particularly for music videos.

The New Sheppey Crossing is a bridge across the Swale Estuary that links the Isle of Sheppey to mainland towns Sittingbourne and Kemsley. It was opened in 2006 and provides an alternative highway to the neighbouring Kingsferry Bridge, which allows for the Kingsferry Bridge to be closed for filming, which was done for Too Close (2021).

Series 26 of Silent Witness will begin airing on BBC One from Monday 2nd January 2023.

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


The Carer (2016)

The Carer film poster - Brian Cox and Coco König in open gardens of large country house. The Carer written in white text

The Carer film poster © Cinefile

Director: János Edelényi

Writers: Gilbert Adair, János Edelényi, Tom Kinninmont

Production Co.:  Hopscotch Films, Mythberg Films, Vita Nova Films

Starring: Brian Cox, Coco König, Anna Chancellor, Emilia Fox, Karl Johnson, Selina Caddell, Andrew Havill, Roger Moore

Kent Locations Used:  Boughton Monchelsea PlaceSutton Valence Care HomeSutton Valence Main School, Sutton Valence Preparatory School , Headcorn, The Lord Raglan Pub – Staplehurst, Theatre Royal – Margate

The Carer is a U.K.-Hungary co-production film about a legendary actor (Brian Cox) who is terminally ill. When young Hungarian actress Dorottya (Coco König) becomes his carer, she hopes he will give her advice and help her reach the English stage. However, despite his revered status, Sir Michael is foul-mouthed and difficult. Will their shared love of Shakespeare bring them closer together?

The film stars Brian Cox (Braveheart, The Bourne Identity) as Sir Michael Gifford and Coco König (Assassin’s Creed) as Dorottya alongside a supporting cast that includes Anna Chancellor (Testament of Youth, Four Weddings and a Funeral), Emilia Fox (The Pianist, David Copperfield), Karl Johnson (The Illusionist, Hot Fuzz), Selina Cadell (Match Point, Doc Martin) and Roger Moore (Live and Let Die, The Spy Who Loved Me).

The production filmed on location in Kent for six weeks in February and March 2015 using Boughton Monchelsea PlaceSutton Valence Care HomeSutton Valence Main School, Sutton Valence Preparatory School, Headcorn, The Lord Raglan Pub – Staplehurst and the Theatre Royal – Margate.

Boughton Monchelsea Place is a 16th Century manor house boasting unrivalled views across the Kent Weald. Previous productions to have filmed there include The Royals (2016), Half Broken Things (2007) and Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949).

Sutton Valence and Headcorn are both small villages found in the district of Maidstone, which has welcomed filming from Later… with Jools Holland (2015), Couples Come Dine With Me (2014) and Missing (2009).

Other locations include the Theatre Royal, which is situated near the heart of Margate, a vibrant seaside resort, with complementary historic and modern architecture. Margate has welcomed other productions including The Apprentice (2015), Last Orders (2002) and Only Fools and Horses: The Jolly Boys’ Outing (1989).

The Carer is released in cinemas on 5th August 2016.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-9V2rxB8AU

 

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


Miss Marple – The Moving Finger (2006)

Geraldine McEwan and James D'Arcy staring into the camera in front of a period style house

Geraldine McEwan and James D’Arcy as Miss Marple and Jerry Burton © ITV

Director: Tom Shankland

Writer: Kevin Elyot

Starring:  Geraldine McEwan, James D’Arcy, Emilia Fox, Jessica Hynes, Kelly Brook, Sean Pertwee, Ken Russell , Harry Enfield .

Production Company: Granada, WGBH Boston, Agatha Christie

Kent Filming Locations: Chilham village, Chilham Castle, St Mary’s Church

Miss Marple is the popular ITV series adapted from Agatha Christie’s murder mystery novels. The Moving Finger is a feature length episode about a delightful countryside village named “Lymstock” where Jerry Burton (James D’Arcy) comes to recuperate after an accident, accompanied by his sister Joanna (Emilia Fox). Beneath the beautiful exterior of Lymstock lies an ugly web of deceit and evil unleashed by a poison pen writer and gruesome murders. Along with Miss Marple (Geraldine McEwan), Jerry Burton (James D’Arcy) look for clues to try and stop the killer in their tracks.

Kelly Brook and Harry Enfield along with other cast members looking down to the floor at a funeral, film crew are to the left filming them

Filming of Miss Marple with Kelly Brook and Harry Enfield © ITV

Emilia Fox sat on a chair in costume signing autographs

Emilia Fox signing autographs © Ashford Borough Council

Directed by Tom Shankland (Ripper Street, The Children)  and starring many familiar faces including Geraldine McEwan (Vanity Fair, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves), James D’Arcy (Cloud Atlas, Age of Heroes), Emilia Fox (Merlin, Randall & Hopkirk), Jessica Hynes (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Shaun of the Dead), Kelly Brook (The Italian Job, Piranha 3D), Sean Pertwee (Equilibrium, Event Horizon), Ken Russell  (Waking the Dead, Zero) and Harry Enfield (Bad Education, Kevin & Perry Go Large).

The beautiful village of Chilham was chosen to represent the fictitious hamlet of Lymstock and the production also made use of other locations in the area including Chilham Castle which was used as Mr. Pye’s House and St Mary’s Church which doubled as Lymstock church and graveyard.

Chilham has a remarkable fifteenth century square of black and white timbered buildings and is no stranger to filming, having been used for other projects such as for a variety of filming projects including Channel 4 comedy Chickens (2011), BBC’s Emma (2009), and Hercule Poirots Christmas (1995).

The programme was shown on ITV in 2005 and is now available to buy on DVD.

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


Henry VIII (2003)

close up of Ray Winstone wearing a gold crown looking away from the camera

Henry VIII © ITV

Director: Pete Travis

Writer: Peter Morgan

Starring: Ray Winstone, Charles Dance, Mark Strong, David Suchet, Danny Webb, Helena Bonham Carter, Emilia Fox, Sean Bean, Emily Blunt

Production Company: Granada Television, Power, Powercorp, WGBH

Kent locations: Leeds Castle

Henry VIII is an Emmy Award winning two-part TV movie, which follows the life of Henry VIII throughout his radical 38 year reign and unpicks the volatility of Henry’s nature, particularly when it comes to love, as he marries and discards a string of wives with quick succession.

Henry VIII was written by British film writer and playwright Peter Morgan and directed by Pete Travis (Dredd, Vantage Point).

The cast includes an array of renowned British actors, such as Ray Winstone (Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Great Expectations), Charles Dance (Game of Thrones, Alien 3), Mark Strong (Kick Ass, Sherlock Holmes), David Suchet (Poirot, Great Expectations) Danny Webb (Alien 3, Valkyrie), Helena Bonham Carter (Sweeney Todd, The King’s Speech), Emilia Fox (The Pianist, Merlin), Sean Bean (Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones) and Emily Blunt (The Young Victoria, The Devil Wears Prada).

Long shot of Leeds Castle and lake

Leeds Castle in Henry VIII © ITV

Historically, Leeds Castle was used as a palace by Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon but the production chose Leeds Castle to represent exteriors of Henry’s castle in Richmond.

Leeds Castle is near Maidstone and is set within 500 acres of parkland and gardens and surrounded by a moat. Features include original marble bathrooms, a river and maze with shell grotto. The location has previously featured in productions such as Gadget Man (2014), Lady Jane (1987) and Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949).

Henry VIII also features in the Kent Film Office Tudor(ish) Trail which celebrates Kent’s Tudor history and film connections.

Henry VIII was first shown on ITV in 2003 and is now available to buy on DVD.

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