filmed in Kent

Too Close (2021)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
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 played by Denise Gough (Paula, 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, Peterloo (2018)) also stars as Julia de Cadenet.

Too Close (2021) is based on the book of the same name, written by Clara Salaman under the pseudonym Natalie Daniels, and is directed by Bruce Goodison (Born to Kill, Doctor Foster) 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 (2021) is due for release on ITV on April 12th at 9pm.

 

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

Devils (2021)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
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

Writers: Elena Buccacio, Mario Ruggeri, Alessandro Sermoneta, Ben Harris, Chris Lunt, Michael A Walker

Directors:  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 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 series (2013-2017) and Human Series 2 (2016) and

Devils was released in Italy in 2019.

UK release date is 17th February 2021 on Sky Atlantic and Now TV.

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

Small Axe (2020)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
A woman is struggling with two policeman stood either side of her holding her arms. They are outside a building.

Rochenda Sandall pictured centre © McQueen Limited

Starring:  Joshua Viner, Malachi Kirby, Rochenda Sandall, Letitia Wright, John Boyega, Malachi Kirby, Joshua Viner

Production Company: Amazon Studios for BBC

Kent Locations Used:  Canterbury Prison

Oscar-winning writer and director Steve McQueen (Widows (2018), 12 Years a Slave (2013)) brings a new series to BBC One with six one hour-long anthologies about London’s West Indian community spanning three decades.

The name of the series is derived from the Jamacian proverb ‘if you are the big tree, we are the small axe’ (Bob Marley) and focuses on the lives of a group of friends and their families living in West London from 1968 to 2014 and has a stellar cast featuring Letitia Wright (Black Panther (2018), Avengers: Infinity War (2018)), John Boyega (Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015)), Rochenda Sandall ((Line of Duty (2012), Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (2018)), Malachi Kirby (Curfew (2019), Devils (2019)) and Joshua Viner (The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)).

Production visited Canterbury Prison to shoot for two days. Canterbury Prison was sold to Canterbury Christ Church University in 2014 and is now part of the university campus. Most recently BBC TV Drama The Capture (2019) filmed at the Prison. The surrounding area of Canterbury is also popular for filming with previous productions including The Rizen (2017) and The Tunnel: Sabotage (2016).

The six-part series is due to air on 15th November 2020 on BBC One.

Links:

For more information about filming in Kent please contact: filmoffice@kent.gov.uk

For more information on the series please visit: https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2019-09-17/small-axe-bbc1-steve-mcqueen-drama-air-date-cast-trailer/

For more information about the conversion of Canterbury Prison visit: https://canterbury.ac.uk/about-us/estate-master-plan/prison-conversion.aspx

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map: https://kentfilmoffice.co.uk/kent-movie-map/moviemap-live-2/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kate & Koji (2020)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
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. 

Phil Spencer’s Stately Homes – Series 3 (2020)

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Phil Spencer wearing a purple jumper standing on the grass in front of the entrance to Leeds Castle.

Phil Spencer’s Stately Homes Series 3 Episode 4 Leeds Castle © Thomas Alexander / Channel 4

 

Executive Producer: Marcus Stephenson

Writers: Harry Williams, Jack Williams

Starring: Phil Spencer and Liz Smith

Production Company: Mayfly Television

Kent Locations Used: Leeds Castle, Maidstone

Phil Spencer (Kirstie & Phil’s Love It or List It (2015), Relocation, Relocation (2003)) returns for a grand tour of some of the country’s finest country houses to uncover the stories behind their creation in Series 3 of Stately Homes for Channel 4.

Phil, accompanied by Conservation Architect Liz Smith ,is given unprecedented access into fascinating stately home archives to reveal the incredible ambition of the house’s creators, as well as the huge quantities of materials, labour and money involved in turning their flights of fancy into bricks and mortar.

With a chance to try his hand at craft and restoration, and insight from the current custodians, Phil discovers how these homes became symbols of power – and play – and what the buildings and estates are really like to own.

The series is produced by Mayfly Television and written by Harry Williams and Jack Williams. The executive producer is Marcus Stephenson with Clemency Green Commissioning Editor for Features.

During filming in 2019 the production visited Leeds Castle in Kent in the year the castle celebrated its 900th anniversary. Filming took place inside the Castle when Phil interviewed staff members including Leeds Castle Curator Annie Kemkaran-Smith as well as a descendant of the last private owner Lady Baillie.  During the episode Phil went punting on the moat and visited the clock tower to raise Lady Baillie’s flag.

Set in the outskirts of the county town of Kent, Maidstone is the beautiful Leeds Castle which is set over 500 acres and boasts stunning period rooms, gardens, a moat, woodlands, maze with shell grotto and a falconry centre. Leeds Castle has previously been used as a film location by factual TV programmes Celebrity Antiques Road Show – Series 8 (2018),  Secrets of Great British Castles (2016) and Richard E. Grant on Ealing Comedies (2016).

Phil Spencer’s Stately Homes – Leeds Castle is due to air on More4 on Thursday 12th March 2020 at 9pm.

Exterior shot of Leeds Castle in the distance, taken from the ground behind some trees.

Phil Spencer Stately Homes S3 Ep4 Leeds Castle GV © Channel 4

 

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

 

 

The Split Series 2 (2020)

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Hannah (Nicola Walker), Nathan (Stephen Mangan) and Christie (Barry Atsma) walking across Millennium Bridge, with London views behind them. The Split written in white.

Nathan (Stephen Mangan), Hannah (Nicola Walker), Christie (Barry Atsma) © BBC / Sister Pictures / Alex Telfer

Writers: Abi Morgan
Director: Jessica Hobbs
Starring: Nicola Walker, Stephen Mangan, Ben Bailey Smith, Barry Atsma, Donna Air
Production Company: Sister Pictures for the BBC
Kent Locations Used: Maidstone TV Studios

The Split is a TV series about the Defoes, a family of female divorce lawyers forced to face their past following the return of their estranged father after a 30 year absence. In series two, the Defoes are back at newly merged law firm Noble Hale Defoe, and instead of being rivals, now find themselves on the same side of the table

Created by Abi Morgan (Suffragette (2015)) and directed by Jessica Hobbs (The Crown (2019)), The Split is now in its second series and is produced by Sister Pictures with Nicola Walker (Spooks (2003-2011)) playing the lead as Hannah Stern, eldest of the three Defoe sisters.

During filming production visited Maidstone TV Studios to film a studio show segment as Hannah Stern’s decides to represent FI Hansen’s (Donna Air (The Counselor (2013)), one half of the UK’s most powerful celebrity couples who seeks a divorce from her controlling husband Richie Hansen (Ben Bailey Smith (Drunk History: UK (2015-2016)).

Richie Hansen (Ben Bailey Smith) standing with his arms around Fi (Donna Air) with the I'm with the Band light sign and drum set and guitars behind them.

Fi (Donna Air), Richie Hansen (Ben Bailey Smith) © BBC / Sister Pictures

Just 45 minutes from London, Maidstone Studios is the UK’s largest independent studios.  The studios are classed as a regional studio facility and has hosted some of the industry’s best loved television programmes from Later… with Jools Holland (2017) to Hetty Feather Series 3 (2017).

The Split Series 2 will air on BBC ONE from Tuesday 11th February 2020 at 9pm.

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

 

This is our Family (2020)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
This Is Our Family 2017 cast standing in a row on the front patio of a house, smiling into the camera. The lady in the middle is sat on a pink chair.

This Is Our Family 2017 ©Sky UK ltd

Director: Ellena Wood
Executive Producers: Ben Gale, Helen Littleboy, Natasha Bondy, Marvyn Benoit
Production Company: Little Gem
Kent Locations Used: Margate

“This Is Our Family” follows four families from across the UK, to tell the stories of their lives over a three year period. This ambitious docu-series began filming four years ago and is split into four 60-minute episodes.

The episode directed by Ellena Wood (Louis Theroux: Talking to Anorexia (2017)) and co-directed by Holly Moy, follows three generations of strong women living under one roof in Margate. Maree Miles lives with her three daughters, Ellie, Lily and Dolce in her mum Irene’s house. 86 year-old Irene has dementia and her condition seems to be getting worse.

Executive Producers are Ben Gale and Helen Littleboy for Little Gem, with Natasha Bondy as Creative Director. Marvyn Benoit is Executive Producer for Sky.

Production visited Margate to film at the participants’ home as well as the seafront, including wide aerial drone shots that show the true scale of the town.  Scenes were also filmed at The Rodney Pub, Margate Hospital, Margate Crematorium, Margate High street and a local hairdresser.

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.

Other productions to visit Margate include Interior Design Masters (2019), The Empty Housing Scandal (2019) and George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces – Series 8 (2018).

The ‘The Miles Family’ episode will debut on Sky Atlantic at 10PM on Tuesday 14th January 2020.

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. 

 

 

 

Dracula (2020)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
CLAES BANG as Dracula wearing a cape and looking into the camera in candle light . An old stone staircase can be seen behind him.

Dracula (CLAES BANG) © BBC/Hartswood Photographer: Robert Viglasky


Writer: Mark Gatis, Steven Moffat, Bram Stoker

Director: Paul McGuigan, Damon Thomas, Jonny Campbell

Starring: Claes Bang, Jonathan Aris, Mark Gatiss, Dolly Wells…

Production Company: Hartswood Films, BBC, Netflix

Kent Locations Used: Joss Bay, Broadstairs

From the makers of Sherlock, Dracula is a brand new drama based on Bram Stoker’s novel, Set in Transylvania in 1897, this time the blood-sucking count will be plotting against Victorian London.

The cast of the 3 feature length episodes is led by Claes Bang starring as Dracula (The Square, The Girl in the Spiders Web), and is supported by Jonathan Aris (Sherlock, The end of the f*cking world), Mark Gatiss (The Favourite, Sherlock) and Dolly Wells (Bridget Jones’s Diary, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies).

Production filmed a sunrise sequence at Joss Bay, Broadstairs which was not used in the final edit.

Joss Bay is a popular sandy beach sheltered by steep chalk cliffs and backing onto the North Foreland Golf Course. Several film productions have visited the location including Coast and Country (2016).

The beach is reputedly named after an eighteenth-century smuggler Joss Snelling. Joss Bay is Kent’s best-known surfing beach and is home to the longest established surf school on this coast. The site offers an ideal set for many film productions.

The Dracula mini-series will air on BBC One on three consecutive days starting at 9pm on 1st January 2020. 

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