Folkestone Harbour

The Serial Killer’s Wife (2023)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Annabel Scholey as Beth and Jack Farthing as Tom stand on a train station platform. Tom is clasping her hands and staring seriously into her eyes. Tom wears a navy-blue polo shirt and Beth wears a grey knitted jumper.

The Serial Killer’s Wife (2023) © BlackBox Multimedia / Clapperboard Studios / Paramount+

Writer: Suzanne Cowie, Alice Hunter (novel)
Starring: Annabel Scholey, Jack Farthing, Luke Treadaway,
Production Company: BlackBox Multimedia, Clapperboard Studios
Kent Locations Used: Folkestone, Folkestone Harbour, The Warren Country Park, Saltwood, Sandgate, The Breaker’s Beach House, Knowlton Court, Abbot’s Cliff, South Foreland Lighthouse, The White Cliffs of Dover

Set in an idyllic English town, The Serial Killer’s Wife (2023) follows Beth Fairchild as her life is turned upside-down when her husband is arrested for murder. Initially believing him to be innocent, Beth soon discovers that her husband may not be who she thought he was.

Based on the book by Alice Hunter and adapted for the screen by Suzanne Cowie (The Good Ship Murder, The Dumping Ground), The Serial Killer’s Wife stars Annabel Scholey (Walking on Sunshine, Personal Affairs) as Beth Fairchild, Jack Farthing (Spencer, Poldark) as Tom Fairchild and Luke Treadaway (Attack the Block, A Street Cat Named Bob) as Adam, Tom’s childhood best friend.

The series filmed across East Kent. In Folkestone, locations featured include a private house on Church Road which doubles for Tom’s old house in Oxford and Mr Alderton’s house, a warehouse adjacent to The Valiant Sailor which doubles for the Vault nightclub, Christ Church CEP Academy, Folkestone Harbour and The Warren Country Park.

Filming also took place in the nearby village of Saltwood. A private house features as Adam’s house and the Hide and Fox Restaurant doubles as Beth’s café.

In Sandgate, The Breakers Beach House doubles as Ollie (Eben Figueiredo) and Libby’s (Elizabeth Roberts) house. Filming also took place on Sandgate beach for brief establishing shots.

Knowlton Court in Canterbury features as the home of Beth and Tom throughout the series. Additionally, roads on the estate were used for scenes of police cars speeding along, the woodland was used for the opening scene of a woman jogging, and the Church features in Episode 4 in a wedding scene.

Other filming locations include Abbot’s Cliff, South Foreland Lighthouse, The White Cliffs of Dover and Upper Road in Dover.

Folkestone is a seaside town with elegant clifftop promenade, lower coastal park, fishing harbour and Victorian cliff-top lifts. It is a popular filming location, with recent productions to film there including Who Is Erin Carter? (2023), Pistol (2022) and The Fight (2019).

Formerly a ferry port connecting the town to various destinations in France and Belgium, Folkestone Harbour Arm and the now non-operational train station have been recently restored and is now home to a growing collection of vibrant independent businesses. Other productions to have filmed there include Back to Life – Series 1 & 2 (2019-2021), Sex Education Season 3 (2021) and Seagull (2019).

The Warren Country Park is a coastal country park backed by cliffs incorporating woods, beach and concrete sea defences. Everyone’s Going to Die (2013) and Darling Buds of May (1991-1993) filmed at the Country Park.

Saltwood is located immediately to the north of Hythe on the high land looking over the Romney Marsh and surrounded by farm land. The parish includes Sandling which has a railway station on the mainline to London. It is the location of Saltwood Castle, once the home of MP Alan Clark and Sandling Park, a large estate which stretches around the village up to its second hamlet, Pedlinge. Previous productions that filmed in Saltwood Castle were The Alan Clark Diaries (2004) and My Week with Marilyn (2011).

The Breakers is a beach house in Sandgate. Set over three floors, the house has a terrace and two balconies offering uninterrupted sea views and direct access to the beach. Nestled between Folkestone and Hythe, the village of Sandgate has a shingle beach offering views over the Channel and a high street with antique shops, inns and restaurants.

Set in a nineteen-hundred-acre estate and surrounded by beautiful parkland, Knowlton Court is a magnificent historic home with a Great Hall, French and Flemish tapestries and a carved stone fireplace. Other productions to have filmed there include Jagame Thandhiram (2021), The Tunnel: Sabotage (2016) and Upstairs, Downstairs – The Sudden Storm (1974).

Abbot’s Cliff has a WWII sound mirror and isolated single lane track on top of white cliffs and is situated between Folkestone and Dover. King of Thieves (2018) and Back to Life – Series 1 & 2 (2019-2021).

A Victorian lighthouse on the White Cliffs of Dover, South Foreland Lighthouse was the first lighthouse powered by electricity and the site of the first international radio transmission. Managed by the National Trust, the site has previously played host to Rogue Agent (2022), Rustom (2016) and Mr Selfridge (2013-2016).

The famous White Cliffs of Dover offer views of Dover Castle, the Port and the English Channel. It is one of England’s most iconic locations and is therefore very popular for filming, having recently featured Whitstable Pearl (2021-2022) and The Tunnel (2013).

The Serial Killer’s Wife (2023) was released on Paramount+ on Friday 15th December 2023.

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

Who Is Erin Carter? (2023)

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Evin Ahmad as Erin Collantes sits at a kitchen table. She is holding a revolver which she is loading with bullets. On the table are three empty bottles of beer, two glasses, a case of bullets and a children’s drawing.

Evin Ahmad in Who Is Erin Carter? (2023) © Netflix

Writer: Jack Lothian
Starring: Evin Ahmad, Sean Teale, Douglas Henshall, Susannah Fielding, Indica Watson
Production Company: Left Bank Pictures
Kent Locations Used: Folkestone Harbour, Grand Burstin Hotel

Who Is Erin Carter? (2023) follows Erin Collantes, a British teacher living a quiet life in Spain. When she’s caught up in a supermarket robbery and the robbers seem to recognise her, her family realise there might be more to Erin than meets the eye.

Written by Jack Lothian (Doc Martin, Strike Back), the series stars Evin Ahmad (Snabba Cash, Beyond Dreams) as Erin Collantes, Sean Teale (Rosaline, The Gifted) as her husband Jordi, Douglas Henshall (Shetland, Primeval) as Daniel Long, Susannah Fielding (This Time With Alan Partridge (2021), Life) as Olivia, and Indica Watson (The Midwich Cuckoos, Deep State) as Erin’s daughter Harper.

Various scenes for Episode 1 of the series were filmed in Folkestone, including on the Harbour Arm, The Stade and the Grand Burstin Hotel.

Folkestone is a seaside town with elegant clifftop promenade, lower coastal park, fishing harbour and Victorian cliff-top lifts. Other productions who have filmed there recently include Pistol (2022), The Fight (2019) and Seagull (2018).

Who Is Erin Carter? (2023) will be released on Netflix on Thursday 24th August 2023.

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

The Tunnel: Sabotage (2016)

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Stephen Dillane and Clémence Poésy walking along a beach towards the camera away from a burning plane

The Tunnel Sabotage Stephen Dillane and Clémence Poésy © Sky Kudos CANAL+

Writer: Ben Richards

Starring: Stephen Dillane, Clémence Poésy, Angel Coulby, Emilia Fox, Clarke Peters, Paul Schneider, William Ash

Production Company: Kudos Film and Television, Shine France

Kent Locations Used: Euro Tunnel, Folkestone Harbour, Discovery Park, Folkestone, Deal and Deal Pier, Dover including the Port and Dover Castle, Westwood Industrial Estate Margate, Ramsgate, Botany Bay – Broadstairs, The Barn in Upstreet, St Martin’s Hospital, Knowlton Court and many more.

The Tunnel: Sabotage is the second series of Sky Atlantic’s critically acclaimed show, re-uniting unlikely Anglo-French detective duo Karl Roebuck (Stephen Dillane) and Elise Wasserman (Clémence Poésy) on another intense investigation.

While series one was a re-imagining of Scandinavian drama “The Bridge”, the new series is an original story by Ben Richards (Outcasts, Spooks) and kicks off with two seemingly isolated events: a plane crashing into the Channel, killing everyone on board and a French couple abducted from the Eurotunnel.

Elise Wasserman (Clémence Poésy), having been promoted to French Commander, is reunited with DCI Karl Roebuck (Dillane) to investigate the two cases. The cross border teams follow a shocking trail of devastation as the victims mount up and become embroiled in a terrifying, deadly game.

The gripping eight part thriller is a Sky Atlantic and Canal+ co-production, made by Kudos and Shine Films France. Joining The Tunnel’s acclaimed production team for the second series are director Mike Barker (Broadchurch, The Smoke) and producer Julian Stevens (Hustle, The Fall).

Stephen Dillane (King Arthur, Game of Thrones) and Clémence Poésy (127 Hours, In Bruges) return in the lead roles, supported by Angel Coulby (Merlin, The Jacket), and new to series two, Emilia Fox (Silent Witness, The Wrong Mans), Clarke Peters (Notting Hill, The Wire), Paul Schneider (Parks and Recreation, The Newsroom) and William Ash (Waterloo Road, Shameless).

The hit first series was largely filmed in Kent and the county welcomed The Tunnel: Sabotage production team once again to their base at Discovery Park in Sandwich. Filming took place in a number of East Kent locations between April and July 2015 including:

Canterbury: The Barn in Upstreet, St Martin’s Hospital, Knowlton Court

Dover: Discovery Park, Deal and Deal Pier, the town of Dover, Port of Dover, Inn and Hotel, Deal, Sandwich Marina, Dover Castle – Admiral’s lookout

Shepway: Euro Tunnel, the town of Folkestone, Folkestone Harbour

Thanet: set building in a warehouse on Westwood Industrial Estate in Margate, Botany Bay and the towns of Ramsgate and Margate

East Kent is ideally situated with great transport links both to London and Europe. The area boasts a wealth of locations including industrial as well as historic buildings and beautiful coastal landscapes. East Kent has previously featured on screen in many projects such as Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Edge of Heaven (2014), The Honourable Woman (2014), Sherlock Holmes – A Game of Shadows (2011), Great Expectations (2011/2012), On A Clear Day (2005) and Die Another Day (2002).

Don’t miss the much anticipated return of The Tunnel: Sabotage which starts on Tuesday 12th April 2016 at 21:00 on Sky Atlantic. The whole series will also be available on Sky Box Sets from this date.

 

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

The Tunnel (2013)

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Clemence Poesy (Elise Wassermann) and Stephen Dillane (Karl Roebuck) standing in the centre of a tunnel

The Tunnel – Clemence Poesy (Elise Wassermann) and Stephen Dillane (Karl Roebuck) © Sky Atlantic/Justin Downing

 

Starring: Stephan Dillane, Clemence Poesy, Keeley Hawes, Liz Smith, David G. Robinson, Angel Coulby, Tobi Bakere, Mathieu Carriere

Production Company: Kudos Film and Television, Shine France

Kent Locations: Channel Tunnel, Folkestone Harbour, Discovery Park, Connaught Barracks, Folkestone, Dover, Margate, The Port of Dover, The Turner Contemporary and many more.      

Inspired by hit Scandinavian drama The Bridge, The Tunnel is a new 10 part Sky Atlantic series set against the backdrop of a European crisis after a French politician is found dead on the border between the UK and France. Detectives from the respective countries are sent to investigate but at the crime scene comes a shocking discovery, forcing the French and British police into an uneasy partnership.  As the serial killer uses ever more elaborate and ingenious methods to highlight the moral bankruptcy of modern society, the detectives are drawn deeper into his increasingly personal agenda.

The series is a Sky Atlantic HD and CANAL+ co-production from Kudos Film and TV and Shine France Films in association with Filmlance and was adapted by an Anglo-French writing team led by Ben Richards (Spooks, Outcasts, Party Animals).

The series stars many famous faces including Stephen Dillane (Game of Thrones), Clémence Poésy (Harry Potter series), Joseph Mawle (Game of Thrones), Tom Bateman (Da Vinci’s Demons), Keeley Hawes (Ashes to Ashes), Liz Smith (The Royal Family), Tobi Bakare (Silent Witness), Jeanne Balibar (The Invisible Woman), Thibault de Montalembert (Days of Glory), Mathieu Carrièrre (High Speed), Angel Coulby (Merlin) and Jack Lowden (Mrs Biggs).

In November 2012, Kent welcomed The Tunnel’s production team who based themselves at Discovery Park in Sandwich.  Filming took place at a variety of East Kent locations between February 2013 and August 2013.

Many prominent Kent locations were used such as the Channel Tunnel, Connaught Barracks, Discovery Park, Folkestone Harbour, The Turner Contemporary, The Port of Dover, Westwood Cross Shopping Centre as well as the towns of Folkestone, Dover and Margate, and the production also made use of the Kent Film Office’s legal powers to close roads for filming.

East Kent has previously provided the back drop for many filming projects such as Dominic Savage’s True Love (2012), Ginger and Rosa (2012), My Week with Marilyn (2011), Son of Rambow (2008) and Venus (2007).

Don’t miss the start of The Tunnel which will be start on Wednesday 16th October 2013 on Sky Atlantic at 21:00.

 

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

Everyone’s Going To Die (2013)

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Everyone's Going to Die Movie - an animated man and woman with the title Everyone's going to die in white

Everyone’s Going to Die (2013) Movie Poster

Director: Jones
Starring: Nora Tschirner, Rob Knighton
Production Companies: Bobo Kaminski, Everyone’s Going To Die, Jones Film
Kent Location Used: Various streets in Folkestone, Rotunda and Sunny Sands beaches, St. Mary’s and St. Eanswythe Church, St. Peter’s Primary School, Georges House Gallery in the Old High Street, The Quarterhouse, The Leas, Folkestone Harbour, Dymchurch Amusements, The Grand, The Warren Country Park

Everyone’s Going To Die is a film set in a fictional English seaside town and centres around Melanie (Nora Tschirner), whose life is going nowhere. When a mysterious man, Ray (Rob Knighton), comes into town, she sees an opportunity to save herself. Attempting to leave their pasts behind and move on, the pair endeavours to change their lives for the better.

Collective Jones directs the film, with Nora Tschirner (Sternenfanger, Rabbit Without Ears) starring as Melanie and Rob Knighton (King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, Anti-Social) as Ray.

The production shot on location in and around Folkestone including various streets, Rotunda and Sunny Sands beaches, St.Mary’s and St. Eanswythe Church, St. Peter’s Primary School, Georges House Gallery in the Old High Street, The Quarterhouse, The Leas, as well as various shops and cafes.

Everyone's Going to Die Screenshot

Everyone’s Going to Die Screenshot at Folkestone Harbour Arm

Everyone's Going to Die Screenshot

Everyone’s Going to Die Screenshot at the old railway at Folkestone Harbour

Everyone's Going to Die Screenshot

Everyone’s Going to Die Screenshot – Melanie (Nora Tschirner) and Ray (Rob Knighton) at the beach

Additional locations include Folkestone Harbour where the old railway station and Harbour Arm feature as one of the locations where Melanie and Ray meet up. The Grand was the hotel that Ray stays at, Dymchurch Amusements was used for the scenes where Melanie bumps into Ray and the beach at The Warren Country Park was used for some of the beach scenes where Melanie and Ray join Laura (Madeline Duggan) and her friends.

Folkestone is a town in the district of Shepway and boasts a beach, Harbour, quaint streets, many studios and galleries at the Creative Quarter and The Leas, whose mile-long cliff-top promenade offers sea views to France. Folkestone has been used as a location for filming by productions such as The Tunnel (2013) and Is Anybody There? (2009).

Everyone’s Going To Die was released at film festivals in 2013 and is now available to buy on DVD.

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

Moon and Son (1992)

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Civic Centre, Folkestone- concrete building with cast members being filmed by a crew in front of the building

Behind the scenes, Moon and Son at Civic Centre, Folkestone © Shepway District Council

Creator: Robert Banks Stewart
Directors: Ken Grieve, Robert Tronson, Paul Harrison, Roger Tucker
Writers: Michael Aitkens, Leslie Darbon
Cast: Millicent Martin, John Michie, Laure Killing, Ian Redford, Patrick Drury, John Fitzgerald Jay
Production Company: BBC
Kent locations Used: Folkestone, Kent and East Sussex Railway, Oare Marshes, Chilham Castle, Crabble Corn Mill, Deal, Folkestone Harbour, Dungeness Estate, The Grand Hotel in Folkestone, The Leas Cliff Hall and The Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway

Moon and Son (1992) is a 13-episode BBC series created by Robert Banks Stewart (Darling Buds of May (1991-1993), Doctor Who), which follows a professional fortune teller, Gladys Moon (Millicent Martin), and her son Trevor (John Michie) as they solve a multitude of mysteries.

The series stars Millicent Martin (Days of Our Lives, Grace and Frankie), John Michie (Coronation Street, Holby City), Laure Killing (Paris Criminal Investigations, Nouvelle Vague), Ian Redford (The Remains of the Day, Coronation Street), Patrick Drury (The Crown (2016-2020), Father Ted) and John Fitzgerald Jay (Roujin Z, Reign).

The production filmed at a variety of locations in Kent and in Nord-Pas-De-Calais across the Channel. Folkestone is the main UK setting and hometown of the Moons. Folkestone Harbour is also used frequently as the Moons travel between Folkestone and Boulogne. The Folkestone area has been used for previous productions including The Tunnel (2013) and Everyone’s Going to Die (2013).

Wittersham Road Station, which is part of Kent and East Sussex Railway, features as a hideout in Episode Two. It is a versatile historic railway that boasts an extensive list of production credits including Mapp and Lucia (2014) and Last Passenger (2013).

The Oare Marshes appear as the location for Mr Marsh’s (Gregory Floy) business in Episode Two and again as the quarry lake where his body is discovered. The Oare Marshes is a reserve consisting of one the few grazing marshes left in Kent. Other productions to have filmed there are A Taste of Britain (2014), Channel 4’s Southcliffe (2013) and Great Expectations (2012).

Chilham Castle, a historic building set in the Tudor village of Chilham features as Lady Doddington’s Estate in Episode Nine of the series. The village of Chilham has welcomed other productions including BBC’s Emma (2009), Miss Marple – The Moving Finger (2006) and Dempsey and Makepeace ‘Cry God for Harry’ (1985).

Crabble Corn Mill also features in Episode Nine as Denham’s Auction House. Recognised as one of Dover’s hidden treasures, Crabble Corn Mill is one of the most complete working Georgian watermills. Dover has often been seen on screen, in particular Dover Castle, in productions such as The Apprentice (2015), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) and The Other Boleyn Girl (2008).

The Old Boatmen’s Room on Deal’s Marina doubled as Basil’s Chapel in Episode Ten. Deal boasts a stunning seafront and pier, as well as two Tudor castles and a thriving high street. Other productions to have filmed in Deal include Legacy (2013) and Ruby Blue (2007).

Other locations that appear in Moon and Son include the palm court at Folkestone’s The Grand, which features frequently as Gladys’ preferred haunt for tea. Additionally, The Leas Cliff Hall is home to the final showdown of Episode Two and The Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway features in Episode Twelve as the location of hidden diamonds.

Moon and Son aired in 1992.

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

Temptation Harbour (1947)

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Illustrated image of a US movie poster. The top half of the image is a harbour and the ocean at night. On the top right is a black-and-white image of Simone Siman looking mischievously over her shoulder. On the bottom left is an image of a man violently grabbing hold of a woman’s arms. On the bottom right is an image of a man in a trench coat and bowler hat pinning another man to the floor. In the middle in orange text is written Temptation Harbor.

Temptation Harbour (1947) © ABPC

Director: Lance Comfort
Starring: Robert Newton, William Hartnell, Simone Simon, Marcel Dalio
Production Company: Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC)
Kent Locations Used: Folkestone Harbour, St Margaret’s Bay

Temptation Harbour (1947) is a British crime drama film following a signalman who witnesses a murder and, upon finding the dead man’s suitcase which contains £5,000, is torn between right and wrong whilst being hunted by the killer and the police.

Directed by Lance Comfort (Escape to Danger, Pit of Darkness), the film stars Robert Newton (Around the World in 80 Days, Jamaica Inn) as Bert Mallison, William Hartnell (Doctor Who – The Dalek Invasion of Earth (1964), Carry On Sergeant) as Jim Brown, Simone Simon (Cat People, La Bête Humaine) as Camelia and Marcel Dalio (Sabrina, The Rules of the Game) as Inspector Dupree.

The film is set at a harbourside train station called Newhaven Harbour; these scenes were filmed at Folkestone Harbour. Locations featured include the signal box (which has recently been restored and now houses a café), the old Folkestone Harbour train station and the arches along The Stade. Filming also took place on St Margaret’s Bay in Dover, which is the location of Bert Mallison’s shed where he traps the murderer.

Formerly a ferry port connecting the town to various destinations in France and Belgium, Folkestone Harbour Arm and the now non-operational train station have been recently restored and is now home to a growing collection of vibrant independent businesses. Other productions to have filmed there include Moon and Son (1992), I Want You (1998) and The Darling Buds of May (1991-1993).

St Margaret’s Bay is a small shingle beach bay backed by the famous white chalk cliffs of Dover. It is a popular filming location, having played host to a variety of productions including Poirot – The Kidnapped Prime Minister (1990), Missing (2009-2010) and Rogue Agent (2022).

Temptation Harbour (1947) was released in UK cinemas on Thursday 27th February 1947 and is currently available to stream on BFI Player.

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