Boomers (2014-2016)

Posted on March 23, 2016 by Kent Film Office

The Boomers cast sitting on a bench - Joan (JUNE WHITFIELD), John (RUSS ABBOT), Maureen (STEPHANIE BEACHAM), Carol (PAULA WILCOX), Trevor (JAMES SMITH), Joyce (ALISON STEADMAN), Alan (PHILIP JACKSON) C BBCHattrickJack Barnes

Joan (June Whitfield), John (Russ Abbot), Maureen (Stephanie Beacham), Carol (Paula Wilcox), Trevor (James Smith), Joyce (Alison Steadman), Alan (Philip Jackson) © BBC/Hattrick/Jack Barnes

Writer: Richard Pinto
Starring: Russ Abbot, Stephanie Beacham, Philip Jackson, James Smith, Alison Steadman, Paula Wilcox
Production Company: Hat Trick Productions
Kent Locations Used: Herne Bay

Boomers (2014-2016) is a BBC One comedy series following the ups and downs of a group of newly retired couples living in a seaside town in England.

The six-part sitcom stars many familiar faces including Russ Abbot (Last of the Summer Wine, The Sarah Jane Adventures), Stephanie Beacham (Dynasty, The Colbys), Philip Jackson (Above the Clouds (2020), Hercule Poirot’s Christmas (1995)), James Smith (The Thick of It, The Iron Lady), Alison Steadman (Gavin & Stacey, Life Is Sweet) and Paula Wilcox (Upstart Crow, The Queen’s Nose). Both series 1 and 2 were written by Richard Pinto (The Kumars at No, 42, Citizen Khan).

After filming the pilot episode in Herne Bay in 2013, the Boomers production team once again visited Herne Bay in May 2014 to film exteriors which doubled as a fictitious Norfolk seaside town. Filming locations included the bandstand where they filmed an open day celebration with Morris dancers as well as Central Parade and Studd Hill.

Production returned to Herne Bay for Series 2.

Herne Bay is located on the Kent coast and boasts a delightful beach with a bandstand and seafront gardens as well as many shops and eateries, amusement arcades, and a windmill. Previous productions which have filmed in Herne Bay include Big Bad World (2013) and The Things I Haven’t Told You (2008).

Series 1 of Boomers aired on BBC One from Friday 15^th August 2014.

Series 2 of Boomers aired on BBC One from Friday 25^th March 2016.

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

Holiday of My Lifetime with Len Goodman (2016)

Posted on February 22, 2016 by Kent Film Office

Holiday of My Lifetime Series 2, Len Goodman and Eve Pollard sitting at a silver table in Margate

Holiday of My Lifetime Series 2, Len Goodman and Eve Pollard in Margate © BBC/RTRP

Production Company: Raise the Roof for BBC Scotland

Kent locations used: Margate, Herne Bay

Strictly star Len Goodman returns to BBC One for another series of Holiday of My Lifetime. Each episode of the nostalgic show features Len and a celebrity reliving their British childhood summer holidays.

The new series will include a variety of stars including actress Pam St Clement, model and presenter Mel Sykes, journalist Jennie Bond, actress and chef Lisa Faulkner, weather presenter Carol Kirkwood and comedian and actor Jasper Carrot.

Kent will feature throughout the new series where Len Goodman visits Margate with and writer Eve Pollard and Herne Bay with presenter Lucy Alexander.

The seaside town of Margate has a delightful sandy beach, arcades, shops in Old Town and modern architecture in the form of the Turner Contemporary gallery. The town has also seen the revival of Dreamland, thought to be the UK’s first original pleasure park. Margate has previously featured on screen in productions such as Edge of Heaven (2014) and Only Fools and Horses: The Jolly Boys’ Outing (1989).

Herne Bay has a shingle beach, bandstand and seafront gardens as well as many shops and eateries, amusement arcades, and a windmill. Previous productions which have filmed in Herne Bay include Boomers (2014) and Big Bad World (2013).

Don’t miss the Kent episodes of Holiday of My Lifetime: Margate will air on Wednesday 24^th February 2016 at 15:45 on BBC One and Herne Bay will air on Tuesday 1^st March 2016 at 15:45 on BBC One.

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

Still Life (2013)

Posted on June 25, 2014 by Kent Film Office

Eddie Marsan as John May stands on a concrete grey tiled pavement looking upwards. He wears a white shirt, grey knitted vest, black spotted tie and a black trench coat. He holds a brown leather bag.

Eddie Marsan in Still Life (2013) © Beta Cinema

Director / Writer: Uberto Pasolini
Starring: Eddie Marsan, Joanne Froggatt
Production Company: Redwave Films, Embargo Films, Beta Cinema, Cinecittà, Exponential Media, RAI Radiotelevisione Italiana
Kent Locations Used: Whitstable, Herne Bay

Still Life (2013) follows council case worker John May as he looks for the relatives of those who died with no known family.

Written and directed by Uberto Pasolini (The Full Monty, Nowhere Special), Still Life stars Eddie Marsan (Deceit (2021), Southcliffe (2013)) as John May, with Joanne Froggatt (Liar (2017-2020), Downton Abbey (2013)) in a supporting role as Kelly Stoke.

Production visited Whitstable and Herne Bay to film a scene set on Whitby seafront where John May is searching for the family of a recently departed man. Local businesses V.C Jones and Mr Chips Fish Bar in Whitstable briefly feature in John’s search.

Whitstable is a thriving seaside town with working fishing harbour, shingle beach and a bustling high street. Other productions to have filmed there include Tipping the Velvet (2002), Venus (2007) and Gangsters, Guns and Zombies (2012).

Herne Bay is a coastal resort which is home to the world’s first free-standing purpose-built clock tower. Series 1 of Big Bad World (2013), Series 1 & 2 of Boomers (2014-2016), and Heartstopper (2022) all filmed in Herne Bay.

Still Life (2013) debuted at Edinburgh International Film Festival on Wednesday 25^th June 2014 and is available to watch on ITVX and Amazon Prime.

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

Big Bad World (2013)

Posted on August 21, 2013 by Kent Film Office

Big Bad World cast sat on a sofa in a cluttered studio flat smiling at the camera.

Big Bad World (2013) © Comedy Central

Writer / Creator: Joe Tucker, Lloyd Woolf
Starring: Blake Harrison, David Fynn, Seann Walsh, Rebecca Humphries, Scarlett Alice Johnson
Production Companies: Comedy Central Films, Objective Productions
Kent Locations Used: Herne Bay, The Diver’s Arms, Port of Ramsgate

Big Bad World (2013) is a Comedy Central series about university graduate Ben, played by Blake Harrison (Kate & Koji (2020-2022), The Inbetweeners (2010)), who returns home to Great Yarmouth to find that not much has changed in the three years he has been away.

As well as Blake Harrison, the show has many familiar faces from the world of comedy including Seann Walsh (Bad Move, The Bystanders), Rebecca Humphries (The Crown (2016-2022), Ten Percent), David Fynn (Am I Being Unreasonable?, The Mauritanian) and Scarlett Alice Johnson (The Good Karma Hospital, Pramface).

The series was created by Lloyd Woolf (Parents, Cowards) and Joe Tucker (Black Ops, Witless).

Ramsgate and Herne Bay double for Ben’s hometown of Great Yarmouth throughout the series. In Episode 2, Ben boards a boat at the Port of Ramsgate to trick Lucy into believing he’s going to work on an oil rig. After being thrown off the boat, he climbs the step onto Royal Harbour Approach Rd and is then driven home by Beth along the Royal Esplanade.

Beth tries to raise money for charity in Great Yarmouth town centre, actually filmed on Mortimer Street and William Street in Herne Bay. In Episode 8, Ben gets his hair cut at Cube Hair Design in Mortimer Street. Herne Bay Promenade and the exterior of Cain’s Amusements on Central Parade feature throughout the series. The Diver’s Arms appears in Episode 3, as one of the pubs the gang visit for Oakley’s birthday.

Ramsgate is a beautiful coastal town which boasts a beach, amusements, arcades, shops, eateries and a theatre as well as the Thanet District Council managed Port of Ramsgate, the only Royal Harbour Marina in the country. Ramsgate has provided back drops for productions such as True Love (2012), Johnny English Reborn (2011) and Ruby Blue (2008).

Herne Bay is part of the Canterbury district in South East Kent and has a popular shingle beach, beautiful coastline and seafront gardens. The town also has many shops and eateries, amusement arcades, a windmill and some interesting architecture including a Victorian bandstand. Productions that have chosen to film in Herne Bay include The Things I Haven’t Told You (2008) and French Dressing (1964).

Big Bad World (2013) began airing on Comedy Central on Wednesday 21^st August 2013 and is now available to purchase on Amazon Prime.

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

The Things I Haven’t Told You (2008)

Posted on February 4, 2008 by Kent Film Office

The Cast of Things I Haven't Told You at the seafront. Three cast members are sat at a bus shelter, one stands next to the sea and the other two are in the front of the shot with their arms around each other

The Cast of Things I Haven’t Told You by the seafront © Tiger Aspect/BBC Three

Writer: Lisa McGee

Director: Marcal Fores

Starring: Elizabeth Day, Nathalie Lunghi, Sophie Loftus, Haruka Abe, Mark Adams, Ryan Sampson and Lenora Chrichlow

Production Company: Tiger Aspect Productions

Kent Filming Locations: Herne Bay, Whitstable, King Ethelbert School in Birchington

Elizabeth Day as Aisling Hunter and Nathalie Lunghi as Geri West © Tiger Aspect/BBC Three

The Things I Haven’t Told You is a BBC Three drama which follows six adolescents attempting to make their way through the traumas of being a teenager.

When super popular Geri West and barely average girl Aisling Hunter suddenly become friends, everyone is suspicious. What does Aisling know about Geri and what does she want in return for her silence?

Then Aisling disappears after a bizarre car accident. Immediately rumours abound: was it really an accident or was it deliberate?

Starring Elizabeth Day, Nathalie Lunghi, Sophie Loftus, Haruka Abe, Mark Adams, Ryan Sampson and Lenora Chrichlow and Andrew Lincoln (Love Actually, Teachers).

The filming took place in the summer of 2007 and King Ethelbert School in Birchington, Whitstable and Herne Bay are featured.

Whitstable and Herne Bay are popular seaside destinations for Londoners on day trips. Herne Bay is a traditional pebble stone beach flanked with quaint and picturesque beach huts whilst Whitstable has a traditional fishing harbour. Whitstable has been previously seen on screen in productions such as Venus (2007).

Birchington is a coastal village near to Margate which is a vibrant seaside resort, with complementary historic and modern architecture. The Carer (2016), Free Speech (2014) and Exodus (2007) have previously used the Margate area for filming.

Things I Haven’t Told You was shown on BBC Three at 9pm on 17^th March 2008.

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

Half Broken Things (2007)

Posted on February 4, 2007 by Kent Film Office

Penelope Wilton standing on the driveway at Boughton Monchelsea Place with grass and benches behind

Penelope Wilton standing on the driveway at Boughton Monchelsea Place © ITV

Production Company: Festival Film & Television, Festival Films, ITV

Kent Locations: Boughton Monchelsea Place, Herne Bay, Teston, Teston Bridge Country Park

Part of ITV’s autumn drama schedule Half Broken Things, starring Penelope Wilton (Calendar Girls, Doctor Who, Ever Increasing Circles), is a psychological thriller set against the idyllic backdrop of the Kent Weald.

The drama is an adaptation of the award winning novel of the same name by Morag Joss. Penelope Wilton plays Jean, a sixty-something house sitter, who is looking after Walden Manor. The house is full of mysteries and locked doors. When Jean isinformed that this will be her last job, she decides to defy all the rules and live the life she has always wanted.
Soon she is joined by Michael (Daniel Mays), a thief, and Steph (Sinnead Matthews), a pregnant girl on the run from her abusive boyfriend.

Over a blissful summer, these three live in an idyll that is soon to shattered when their past begins to catch up with them and events take a dangerous and sinister turn.

Filming with views over the Weald, swimming pool in the left hand corner

Filming with views over the Weald © ITV

Boughton Monchelsea Place exterior and garden

Boughton Monchelsea Place © Kent Film Office

The programme was shot on location throughout Kent, with the main location being Boughton Monchelsea Place, which doubled as Walden Manor. A stunning 16^th Century manor house, Boughton Monchelsea Place has an ancient deer park and has unrivalled views across the Kent Weald.

The house is no stranger to filming. In addition to the many fashion shoots that it has hosted, last year it played host to reality TV series Australian Princess which sees young Australians going through lessons in ‘royal deportment’, the winner being ‘crowned’ Princess. The house itself is not open to the public. However they are open for events, weddings and of course filming.

The programme also filmed on location in Teston village and Country Park as well as Herne Bay.

Teston is a rural village on the outskirts of Maidstone and is home to Teston Bridge Country Park which has 32 acres of grazed meadow, river walks, a children’s play area and the picturesque 14th century Teston Bridge which was used for filming of feature film Dunkirk (1958).

The novel written by Morag Joss won a CWA Silver Dagger Award in 2003. She has recently completed her fifth novel Puccini’s Ghosts.

Half Broken Things was shown on ITV on Sunday 28th October 2007 at 21.00

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

Little Britain – Season 1 (2003)

Posted on February 9, 2003 by Kent Film Office

Little Britain Characters stood on top of a cartoon map of the UK that is coloured like the United Kingdom flag. Little Britain is written to the left.

Little Britain Poster © BBC

Writers: David Walliams, Matt Lucas

Starring: Matt Lucas, David Walliams, Tom Baker, Paul Putner, Anthony Head, Charu Bala Chokshi

Production Company: BBC, Little Britain Productions

Kent Locations Used: Herne Bay

Little Britain is a character-comedy sketch show from creators David Walliams and Matt Lucas, both of whom also star in the show. Exploring a variety of unusual and amusing characters residing across the British Isles, the first season of Little Britain was partly filmed in Herne Bay.

Heading the show as numerous characters are David Walliams (Big School, Come Fly With Me) and Matt Lucas (Bridesmaids, Come Fly With Me), also featuring other famous faces like Tom Baker (Doctor Who, Monarch of the Glen) as the narrator, Paul Putner (Kidulthood, The Peter Serafinowicz Show), Anthony Head (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Merlin) and Charu Bala Chokshi (Gandhi, A Fish Called Wanda) as supporting characters.

Herne Bay promenade and clock tower. Beach and sea can be seen to the right

Little Britain screenshot at Herne Bay

A number of different locations in Herne Bay appear in Season 1 of Little Britain as the home of cross dresser Emily Howard. The interior and exterior of the Bun Penny, the once well-known pub on Herne Bay’s seafront, features in episode one, while the clock tower appears in both episode three and episode eight. Other locations used include Central Parade and Central Avenue. Some of the Lou and Andy sketches are also filmed at Herne Bay.

Herne Bay is a traditional seaside town located on the Kent coast, with interesting Victorian architecture and a splendid seafront boasting glorious beaches. The town is a popular location, with previous productions such as Boomers (2014) and Big Bad World (2013) choosing to film there.

Little Britain ran for three more seasons and is available to buy on DVD.

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

Only Fools and Horses: The Jolly Boys’ Outing (1989)

Posted on December 20, 1989 by Kent Film Office

Only Fools and Horses cast walking in a row towards the camera- metal globe behind them

Director: Tony Dow

Writer: John Sullivan

Starring: David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Buster Merryfield, Paul Barber, John Challis, Sue Holderness, Roger Lloyd-Pack, Kenneth MacDonald, Gwyneth Strong, Tessa Peake-Jones.

Production Company: BBC

Kent Locations: Margate, Dreamland, Broadstairs, Herne Bay

The Jolly Boys’ Outing is the 1989 Christmas Special of the popular BBC series Only Fools and Horses and sees the Trotter brothers go on their annual coach trip to Margate with the Nag’s Head regulars. However, the trip doesn’t go to plan and forces the gang to stay overnight where Del bumps into his old flame Raquel.

Renowned British comedy Only Fools and Horses is about the Trotter brothers who live in Peckham, South London and the highs and lows they face trying to get rich. The sitcom was created and written by John Sullivan (The Two Ronnies, Roger Roger) and ran from 1981 – 2003, becoming one of the most loved sitcoms.

The Jolly Boys’ Outing episode was directed by Tony Dow (Babylon 5, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show) and stars David Jason (Open All Hours, The Darling Buds of May) as Derek ‘Del Boy’ Trotter and Nicholas Lyndhurst (Goodnight Sweetheart, Rock & Chips) as Rodney Trotter and Buster Merryfield (Shroud for a Nightingale, Strangers and Brothers) as Uncle Albert.

The supporting cast also boasts many familiar face including Roger Lloyd-Pack (The Vicar of Dibley, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire), Tessa Peake-Jones (Marchlands, Holby City) and Paul Barber (The Full Monty, Coronation Street).

Margate was the main destination in the episode where the boys visit theme park Dreamland. The former Broadstairs Police Station also features in the episode as well as the now closed Roman Galley Pub in Herne Bay which was used for the pitstop location where the gang stop off on their journey to Margate.

Margate is a delightful seaside town with a sandy beach, harbour, arcades, and period housing. The area has been seen on screen before featuring in productions such as BBC One’s improvised drama True Love (2012) and feature film Last Orders (2002).

Herne Bay boasts beaches and seafront gardens as well as many shops and eateries, amusement arcades and a windmill. Productions that have chosen to film in the area include Got To Dance (2012) and Things I Haven’t Told You (2008).

The Jolly Boys’ Outing episode of Only Fools and Horses was first shown on Christmas Day 1989 and is now available on DVD.

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

Cockles! (1984)

Posted on January 4, 1984 by Kent Film Office

Opening title screen for Cockles!. A white screen with cockles in the top half, the programme title Cockles! In the centre , and on the bottom in black text is written Cc-Cc-Cc-Cockles, cockles from Cocklesea.

Writer: Douglas Livingstone
Starring: James Grout, Joan Sims, Norman Rodway, Jane Lowe, David Bamber, Tim Wylton
Production Company: BBC
Kent Location Used: Herne Bay, King’s Hall, Ramsgate Royal Harbour, Whitstable Harbour, Tankerton beach

Cockles! (1984) was a BBC comedy series, set in the fictional Kentish beach town of Cocklesea. The series follows ex-pat Arthur Dumpton trying to get the faded old seaside resort back to its former glory

The series was written by Douglas Livingstone (Clayhanger, Boys from the Bush), and stars James Grout (Inspector Morse, Mother Love) as Arthur Dumpton, Joan Sims (Carry on Screaming, Carry on Up the Khyber) as Gloria du Bois, Norman Rodway (Inspector Morse – Deceived by Flight (1989), Reilly: Ace of Spies) as Jacques, Jane Lowe (Bad Girls, The Creeping) as Mabel du Bois, David Bamber (Valkyrie, Miss Potter) as Graham and Tim Wylton (Pride and Prejudice, Wycliffe) as George.

Herne Bay doubles for the fictional town of Cocklesea, with filming taking place on the beach, the promenade by the bandstand and clocktower as well as along Central Parade. Private properties on Central Parade feature as the exterior of the Sunny Side Guest House run by Gloria DuBois and the Seaview Guesthouse run by Mabel. The King’s Hall appears throughout the series, doubling as the Cocklesea Pavilion which Arthur has bought and fixes up to become the new hub of the revived community.

Whitstable Harbour features as Cocklesea harbour in the first episode where Jaques and his mates Graham & George try to run a smuggling operation and Tankerton Beach also appears briefly in Episode 4, where George goes for a run by the Yacht Club.

Ramsgate Royal Harbour appears in Episode 4 of the series, as the location where Jacques goes to paint and meets the American Veronica Stapmeyer (Pat Starr) on her yacht.

Herne Bay is a coastal resort which is home to the world’s first free-standing purpose built clock tower. Productions which filmed in the town around the same time include Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em (1973), Blue Jeans (1977) and The Medusa Touch (1978).

Opened in 1913, the King’s Hall is an architectural gem, captivating visitors with its original Edwardian features and idyllic seafront views. French Dressing (1964) and Jagame Thandhiram (2021) filmed at this location.

Ramsgate is the home of the only Royal Harbour in the UK, decreed by King George IV in 1821 due to his fondness of the friendly locals he met there. The Harbour is a popular filming location, featuring in Contraband (1940), Á nous les petites Anglaises (1976) and The Big Sleep (1978).

Whitstable Harbour is a small commercial harbour in North Kent. Built in 1832 to serve the new railway, nowadays it is a municipal harbour. The town is famous for its oysters and the harbour has a number of shops which sell fish and shellfish.

The Tankerton Slopes are adjacent to Whitstable and consist of grassy banks covered in beach huts in front of a pebble beach. The beach features in Zoe and the Astronaut (2018) and Whitstable Pearl (2021-2022).

Cockles! (1984) aired on BBC One from Wednesday 4^th January to Wednesday 8^th February 1984.

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

Fox (1980)

Posted on March 10, 1980 by Kent Film Office

Fox DVD cover. Backdrop of a London skyline during sunset. In the foreground is a close-up of Peter Vaughan as Billy Fox, wearing a grey suit and looking stern. Behind him are close-up images of two men who have been badly beaten up.

Director: Jim Goddard
Writer: Trevor Preston
Starring: Peter Vaughan, Bernard Hill, Derrick O’Connor, Larry Lamb, Ray Winstone
Production Company: Euston Films, Thames Television
Kent Locations Used: Margate, Herne Bay, Kingsgate Bay, Botany Bay

Fox (1980) was an ITV crime-drama series following the titular Fox family and their gangland feuds. In episodes 5 and 6, Kenny Fox (Ray Winstone) finds himself in Kent and becomes the victim of a slapdash kidnapping plot.

The series was directed by Jim Goddard (Shanghai Surprise, Kennedy) and written by Trevor Preston (Night Hair Child, I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead). It stars Peter Vaughan (Straw Dogs, Brazil) as old Billy Fox, Bernard Hill (Exodus (2007), The Mill on the Floss (1997)) as Vin Fox, Derrick O’Connor (Daredevil, Lethal Weapon 2) as Ray Fox, Larry Lamb (Essex Boys (2000), Eastenders (2007-2023)) as Joey Fox and Ray Winstone (The Sweeney (2012), Great Expectations (2011)) as Kenny Fox.

Margate, Herne Bay, Kingsgate Bay and Botany Bay in Broadstairs feature in Episodes 5 and 6 of the series, as the seaside location where Kenny Fox finds himself victim of a kidnapping. Locations featured include Margate Main Sands, Margate Harbour Arm, The Parade and Marine Drive in Margate. A private house on East Cliff Parade, which doubles for the squat where Kenny is held captive as well as Central Parade feature in Herne Bay.

Margate is a seaside town complete with sandy beach, harbour, Dreamland amusement park, period housing and ultra-modern art gallery Turner Contemporary. It is one of Kent’s most popular filming locations, having played host to Only Fools and Horses: The Jolly Boys’ Outing (1989), Last Resort (2000) and Last Orders (2002).

Herne Bay is a coastal resort which is home to the world’s first free-standing purpose built clock tower. Other productions to have filmed here include Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em (1973), Blue Jeans (1977) and Cockles! (1984).

Botany Bay is a sandy bay against a white cliff backdrop with steep, sandy track for vehicle access and small portable café. It is one of Kent’s most popular beaches for photoshoots but has also featured in many TV programmes and films, including Á nous les petites Anglaises (1976), The Fixer (2008) and True Love (2012). It connects to a similar cove, Kingsgate Bay at low tide.

Fox (1980) aired on ITV between Monday 10^th March 1980 and Monday 2^nd June 1980 and is currently available to purchase on DVD.

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

Kent's Premier Film Commission