Francesca Annis

Flesh and Blood (2020)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
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.

Magnum, P.I. – Season 6, Episode 1 & 2 (1985)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
John Hillerman as Higgins and Tom Selleck as Magnum stand in a bed of daffodils. Behind them is a medieval castle and a wide river. Both men are dressed in suits and are looking seriously at each other.

Tom Selleck and John Hillerman in Magnum P.I. “Déjà Vu” © Universal Television

Writer: Donald P. Bellisario, Glen A. Larson, Chris Abbott
Starring: Tom Selleck, John Hillerman, Peter Davison, Larry Manetti, Francesca Annis
Production Company: Belisarius Productions, Glen A. Larson Productions, Universal Television
Kent Locations Used: Leeds Castle

Magnum, P.I. (1980-1988) was an American crime drama series following Hawaii-based private investigator Thomas Sullivan Magnum IV, known as Magnum. Season 6, Episodes 1 & 2 “Déjà Vu” sees Magnum go to England to prepare Robin Masters’ new castle for a party. When St Clair, an old army buddy of his dies in suspicious circumstances, he finds himself embroiled in a murder case.

The series was written by Donald P. Bellisario (Quantum Leap, NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service), Glen A. Larson (Quincy M.E., Battlestar Galactica) and Chris Abbott (Legacy, The Bold and the Beautiful), and the “Déjà Vu” episodes star Tom Selleck (Blue Bloods, 3 Men and a Baby) as Magnum, John Hillerman (Chinatown, Blazing Saddles) as Higgins, Peter Davison (The Larkins (2021-2022), Doctor Who) as Ian MacKerras, Larry Manetti (Flying Misfits, JAG) as Orville ‘Rick’ Wright, and Francesca Annis (Flesh and Blood (2020), Dune) as Penelope St. Clair.

Leeds Castle features in both episodes as Robin Master’s new English castle.

Leeds Castle is a romantic castle with medieval-themed rooms, 1920s style interiors and original marble bathrooms on a large estate with gardens, moat, woodlands, a maze with shell grotto, and an aviary. Other productions to have filmed there include Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949), Lady Jane (1987) and Henry VIII (2003).

Magnum, P.I. aired between 1980 and 1988. Season 6 Episodes 1 & 2 “Déjà Vu” aired on Thursday 26th September 1985 and are available to watch on iTunes.

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