The Great (2020-2023)

Catherine the Great (Elle Fanning) stands on a beach with white cliffs in the background. She is wearing a historical style dress which is white with red flowers. She has a red flower in her hair.

Elle Fanning in The Great (2020-2023) © Hulu

Creator: Tony McNamara
Starring: Elle Fanning, Nicholas Hoult, Phoebe Fox, Gwilym Lee, Sacha Dhawan
Production Company: Thruline Entertainment, Echo Lake Entertainment, Lewellen Pictures, MRC Television, Macgowan Films
Kent Locations Used: Hever Castle, St Clere Estate, Botany Bay, Cobham Wood, The Historic Dockyard Chatham

The Great (2020-2023), a satirical comedy from American streaming company Hulu, follows the infamous rise of Prussian-born Catherine the Great as she ascends to become the longest serving female ruler in Russian history. Forced to choose between her own personal happiness and the future of an empire, she abandons a life of love and romance and vows to change a country plagued by deceit and ruin.

Series 3 sees Catherine and Peter attempt to make their marriage work after a very rocky start. But with Peter haunted by visions of his late grandfather, Peter The Great (Jason Isaacs), will he stay content as mere First Husband to Catherine the Great for long?

The series was created by Tony McNamara (The FavouriteAshby) and stars Elle Fanning (Maleficent, Mary Shelley) as Catherine the Great, Nicholas Hoult (Mad Max: Fury RoadWarm Bodies) as Peter III of Russia. Phoebe Fox (Close to the EnemyThe Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death), Gwilym Lee (Bohemian RhapsodyMidsomer Murders) and Sacha Dhawan (Iron FistThe History Boys) feature in supporting roles.

Production visited various locations in Kent for Series 1, 2 and 3.

In Series 1 Episode 8, the Italian Loggia on Hever Castle lake doubles as an Eastern European house where Peter III of Russia (Nicholas Hoult) and Catherine (Elle Fanning) meet the Swedish King Hugo (Freddie Fox) and Queen Agnes (Grace Molony). The Loggia reappears in Series 2 Episode 1 as the house in which Peter and his confidantes Grigor (Gwilym Lee) and Georgina (Charity Wakefield) hide out from Catherine’s army.

The fields of St Clere Estate in Sevenoaks were used to stage battle scenes in Series 1 Episodes 5 and 7. The location returned in Series 2 Episode 1 as Catherine’s army’s base camp. St Clere also reappears in Series 3 Episodes 6 and 8 as an army camp on the Russia / Sweden border and the frozen lake where one key character meets an unexpected end.

Botany Bay in Broadstairs features in a dream sequence in Series 2 Episode 10, where Catherine images Peter eating a whale on the beach.

Cobham Wood appears briefly in Series 3 Episode 6, as Catherine and Grigor ride in a carriage through the woods. The Tarred Yarn Store at The Historic Dockyard Chatham also features in Series 3 Episode 5, doubling as the interior of a town hall where Pugachev (Nicholas Hoult) incites the peasants against Catherine.

Hever Castle is an outstanding 13th century and Tudor castle with a moat, stunning Italianate gardens, a beautiful lake, as well as a mock Tudor Village. It was the original home of the Boleyn family. Productions that filmed here include Inkheart (2008) and The Third Day (2020).

St Clere Estate is set in 2800 acres of the rolling Kent countryside and offers stunning views of the North Downs. Some of the ground’s features include formal gardens, paddocks, a meadow, fields, an orangery, green houses and a temple by the lake. St Clere Estate has previously been used to film Road Games (2016) and Sky’s original series Gangs of London (2020-2022).

One of the most popular filming locations in Kent, Botany Bay is a sandy bay set against a white cliff backdrop with a steep, sandy track for vehicle access and small portable café. Recent productions to have filmed on Botany Bay include The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021), The Baby (2022) and Sulphur and White (2020).

Cobham Wood is a vast woodland park containing an array of vegetation and landscapes. The park is home to the Darnley Mausoleum; built in the 18th Century as the final resting place for the Darnley family, it remains unused.

A historic 17th Century Dockyard spanning over 80 acres, Chatham Dockyard contains over 100 buildings dating from the Georgian and Victorian periods. One of the most popular filming locations in Kent, recent productions to have filmed on the site include A Spy Among Friends (2022), Enola Holmes 2 (2022), and Series 3 of Jerk (2023).

Series 3 of The Great will be released on Lionsgate+ on Friday 14th July 2023 and the series is currently available to stream on StarzPlay and All4.

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


The Third Day (2020)

Jude Law as character Sam stands silhouetted by the sun looking towards the ground

The Third Day (2020) with Jude Law © Sky UK Limited

Writers: Dennis Kelly, Dean O’Loughlin, Kit de Waal
Director: Philippa Lowthorpe, Marc Munden
Starring: Jude Law, Naomie Harris, Mark Lewis Jones, Amer Chadha-Patel, Katherine Waterston
Production Company: Plan B Entertainment, Punchdrunk International, SKY Studios
Kent Locations Used: Fog Signal Station, Allens Farm, Chiddingstone, Bedgebury National Pinetum Forest, Hever Castle, Shellness Beach and Huts, Quex Park, St Clere Estate, Grain Coastal Park and and other private Kent locations.

Jude Law (Captain Marvel, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald) leads the cast in mysterious six-part limited series The Third Day (2020) due to air in the UK on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV. Blurring the lines between fantasy and reality, the adventure tale finds Law’s character Sam traveling to a strange island off the British coast where he encounters its inhabitants, eventually clashing with them as his sanity is threatened.

Produced by Plan B Entertainment for HBO, The Third Day also stars Naomie Harris (Skyfall, Spectre), Mark Lewis Jones (The Crown , Chernobyl), Amer Chadha-Patel (Beecham House , Year of the Rabbit ) and Katherine Waterston (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Alien: Covenant). Directed by Marc Munden (Utopia, National Treasure) and Philippa Lowthorpe (Three Girls, The Crown ) the show was written by Dennis Kelly (Utopia, Black Sea) with Kit de Waal and Dean O’Loughlin contributing two episodes.

Production visited many locations in Kent for filming, including Fog Signal Station at Dungeness, Allens Farm, St Clere Estate, Bedgebury National Pinetum Forest, Hever Castle, Quex Park, Grain, Chiddingstone and Shellness Beach.

Chiddingstone is one of the oldest and most picturesque villages in Kent. Within the Sevenoaks District, the village sits on the River Eden between Tonbridge and Edenbridge. Previous productions to film there include Terry and Mason’s Great Food Trip (2015) and Flog It! (2014).

Hever Castle is an outstanding 13th century Tudor castle and moat. The grounds include stunning Italianate gardens, a large lake, as well as a mock Tudor Village. It was the original home of the Boleyn family. Inkheart (2008) and The Other Boleyn Girl (2008) have previously filmed there.

Set in 2800 acres of the rolling Kent countryside, St Clere estate offers stunning views of the North Downs, formal gardens, paddocks, a meadow, ploughed fields, a kitchen garden, orangery, green houses, workshops and stunning features such as a hawthorn archway, lime avenue and a temple by the lake. Gangs of London (2020) and The Great (2020) have recently filmed here.

Shellness Beach has an area of mixed sand and shingle beach adjoining Shellness on the Isle of Sheppey. The beach is bordered by private chalets, some of which are available for filming. Both Dark Heart Series 1 (2018) and Kiss Me First (2018) have previously filmed here.

Situated in Dungeness on the Kent coast, The Fog Signal Station has been re-furbished to an incredible standard from old government buildings into contemporary dwellings. The interior leads outside via large glass doors on to decking and shingle. Vistas from the site include two light houses and a look-out tower. Una (2017) and All Or Nothing (2002) have previously filmed at Dungeness.

Allens Farm is a beautiful in the heart of the Sevenoaks district. Recent productions to have filmed in Sevenoaks include Gangs of London (2020) and The First Team (2020).

Bedgebury National Pinetum Forest in Tunbridge Wells has the world’s finest collection of Conifers. The site is a mixture of lakes, valleys, parkland and denser forest with a large variety of tree species. There are also adventure playgrounds, a Go Ape facility, restaurant, cafe and bike hire. Rupert, Rupert and Rupert (2019) and Queens of Mystery (2019) have previously filmed in Tunbridge Wells.

Quex Park is a regency-style country estate with a unique museum containing dioramas of African landscapes and gardens. The science fiction show Blakes 7 – Bounty (1978)  was filmed here.

Grain Coastal Park on the Isle of Grain gives visitors a chance to walk along two miles of shoreline and pass by ancient Forts. There are also leafy avenues with tunnels of trees that host a variety of wildflowers. Peterloo (2018) and London Spy (2015) have both previously made use of the various locations available on the Isle of Grain.

The Third Day will be available to stream on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV from Tuesday 15th September 2020.

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


The Apprentice (2014)

The Apprentice contestants with Karren Brady, Lord Alan Sugar and Nick Hewe in front of them. Skyline of London in background

The Apprentice contestants with Karren Brady, Lord Alan Sugar and Nick Hewer © BBC/Boundless/Jim Marks Photography

Production Company: Talkback

Kent Locations: Hever Castle, Canterbury

The Apprentice is the popular BBC series where aspiring businessmen and women battle it out for a chance to receive a £250,000 investment from renowned entrepreneur Lord Alan Sugar.

Now in its tenth series, the 20 candidates try to impress in a variety of challenges under the watchful eyes of Lord Sugar’s advisors, Karren Brady and Nick Hewer, to avoid the weekly boardroom firing.

In the fifth episode of the new series, the two teams are tasked with creating coach tours and have just 2 days to persuade people to part with their hard earned cash and take day trips to top tourist attractions outside London. One team decides to offer tours to Oxfordshire, whilst the other decides on Canterbury including a visit to Hever Castle. Which team will be victorious?

Canterbury is a historic City boasting the magnificent Canterbury Cathedral and St Augustine’s Abbey and St Martin’s Church which form a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The area also boasts the modern city, parks and open spaces as well as neighbouring quaint, traditional villages.  Previous productions that have filmed in Canterbury include Last Orders (2008).

Hever Castle is a thirteenth century castle which was once the childhood home of Anne Boleyn and boasts formal Italian Gardens and an ornamental lake. The location has featured in various productions including Inkheart (2008), The Other Boleyn Girl (2008) and Anne of a Thousand Days (1969).

Don’t miss The Apprentice episode featuring Canterbury which will be shown on Wednesday 5th November at 21:00 on BBC1.

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


Inkheart (2008)

Silvertongue reading to a young Meggie. Both on green armchairs with a table in between them. Bookshelves can be seen behind.

Silvertongue played by Brendan Fraser reading to a young Meggie © Entertainment Film Distributors Ltd 

Director: Iain Softly

Starring: Helen Mirren, Brendan Fraser, Eliza Bennett, Jim Broadbent, Paul Bettan

Production Company: New Line Cinema, Internationale Filmproduktion Blackbird Erste

Kent locations used: Hever Castle

Based on the best selling novel by Cornelia Funke, Inkheart is about Mo ‘Silvertongue’ Folchart (Brendan Fraser – The Mummy) who has a special gift when reading aloud: the characters come to life. One night, he unknowingly brings to life three characters from a novel entitled Inkheart who kidnap him. Now it is up to Mo’s daughter Meggie (Eliza Bennett – Nanny McPhee) and her great-aunt Eleanor (Helen Mirren – The Queen) to rescue him from the cruel dictator Capricorn (Andy Serkis, Lord of the Rings) and return the characters back to the pages of Inkheart. Alongside her real and fictional friends, Meggie learns the importance of family and having a place to call home.

Andy Serkis holding the Inkheart book staring at the camera

Andy Serkis in Inkheart © Entertainment Film Distributors Ltd. Photo: Close Murray

Helen Mirren wearing a red headscarf with her hands clasped together under her neck

Helen Mirren © Entertainment Film Distributors Ltd. Photo: Close Murray

Directed by Iain Softly (Hackers, The Skeleton Key) and featuring an all-star cast, Helen Mirren (Calendar Girls, The Queen) Brendan Fraser (George of the Jungle, Journey to the Center of the Earth), Jim Broadbent (Bridget Jones’s Diary, Moulin Rouge!) Paul Bettany (A Knight’s Tale, Wimbledon) and Eliza Bennett (The Prince and Me, Nanny McPhee).

Hever Castle was used for three weeks for the filming of Inkheart, transforming the historical site into the Italian lakeside home of Great Aunt Elinor as the historical home of Anne Boleyn and the beautiful Italian gardens complete with a lake were ideal for this family-orientated fantasy film.

Hever Castle is a thirteenth century Tudor castle near Edenbridge, Hever which was originally the home of the Boleyn family. Hever Castle is a popular filming location with its stunning Italianate gardens, beautiful lake and a mock Tudor village.  Hever Castle has also be used for other productions such as  Walking through History (2013),  The Other Boleyn Girl (2008) and Anne of a Thousand Days (1969).

Inkheart was released in cinemas in December 2008 and can now be bought on DVD.

 

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


Lady Jane (1987)

 

Lady Jane Movieposter- close up of Lady Jane with her hand on a man hair. Lady Jane written in red on top.

Lady Jane Movieposter © Paramount Pictures

Directed By:  Trevor Nunn

Starring: Helena Bonham Carter, Cary Elwes, John Wood, Patrick Stewart

Production Company: Capital Equipment Leasing, Paramount Pictures

Kent Locations Used: Hever Castle, Leeds Castle, Dover Castle

When the death of King Henry VIII throws the country into chaos, the question of succession to the throne must be resolved. While the King’s surviving son Prince Edward lies on his death bed, a scheming John Dudley resolves to marry his son Guildford (Cary Elwes) to Lady Jane Grey (Helena Bonham Carter), great niece of Henry VII and place her on the throne after the king’s death. Unwilling to be married, Guildford and Jane are at first unhappy with Dudley’s plans, but over time, their love for each other blossoms just as  a chain of events threatens to rip them apart.

This costume drama sheds light on England’s reformation in 1553 as the Duke of Northumberland attempted to guarantee a Protestant monarchy and keep Catholic Princess Mary from the throne.

The film is directed by Trevor Nunn (King Lear, Oklahoma!) and star Helena Bonham Carter (Fight Club, The King’s Speech) and Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride, Saw) as young lovers Jane and Guildford, alongside John Wood (WarGames, Chocolat) and Patrick Stewart (Star Trek and X-Men series).

Three of Kent’s Castles feature in the film: the Long Gallery at Hever Castle was used for the scene where Lady Jane (Helena Bonham Carter) and Princess Mary (Jane Lapotaire) meet and talk about God and the moat around Leeds Castle was used to double as some of the exterior of Lady Jane’s home. Dover Castle doubles as the Tower of London, including the execution scenes at the end of the film.

Near Maidstone is the magnificent Leeds Castle, which is set within 500 acres of parkland and gardens and surrounded by a moat. This location boasts a mote and maze and state rooms including original marble bathrooms. The location has previously featured in productions such as Gadget Man (2014), Henry VIII (2003) and Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949).

Hever Castle was originally built as a country house in the 13th Century, but the Boleyn family, who held a seat there from 1462 till 1539, transformed parts of the castle into a Tudor manor. Today it offers three floors containing antique furniture and Tudor artefacts which makes it one of the most popular tourist destinations in the county.  The location has been used for filming projects including Inkheart (2008) and Anne of a Thousand Days (1969).

Dover Castle was founded in the 12th Century and has held defensive significance for the country throughout history. The famous Operation Dynamo during the Second World War was masterminded within its walls. Dover Castle has previously featured in Into The Woods (2015), The Other Boleyn Girl (2008) and To Kill a King (2003).

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

Lady Jane was released in cinemas in February 1986 and is now available to buy on DVD.

 

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

 


Mapp & Lucia (1985–1986)

Mapp and Lucia DVD cover- three characters in a triangle on a purple patterned background. Mapp & Lucia written in pink on top

Mapp and Lucia DVD © London Weekend Television (LWT)

Director: Donald McWhinnie

Writer: E.F. Benson (novel) and Gerald Savory (screenplay)

Starring: Prunella Scales, Geraldine McEwan, Nigel Hawthorne, Denis Lill, James Greene

Production Company: London Weekend Television (LWT)

Kent Locations: Chilham including Cumberland Lodge, Hever Castle

Mapp and Lucia is a Channel 4 series, based on three 1930’s novels by E. F. Benson. Set in the fictional Sussex coastal town of Tilling-on-Sea, the show centres around social schemers Mapp (Prunella Scales) and Lucia (Geraldine McEwan) who will stop at nothing to bolster their position amongst their community’s elite.

Mapp and Lucia, aired in two series of five episodes and was directed by Donald McWhinnie (Moll Flanders, Churchill’s People, Much Ado About Nothing), with the screenplay adapted by Gerald Savory (Agatha Christie’s Partners in Crime, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Victorians).

The series stars Prunella Scales (Howards End, After Henry, Wolf), Geraldine McEwan (Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, The Magdalene Sisters, Agatha Christie’s Marple), Nigel Hawthorne (Amistad, Demolition Man, Gandhi) Denis Lill (Batman, The Royal, Richard III) and James Greene (Sherlock Holmes, RocknRolla, Empire of the Sun).

Chilham village with lots of cast members walking around in front of a tudor style house

Mapp and Lucia screenshot at Chilham © London Weekend Television (LWT)

Hever Castle - a car outside the castle

Mapp and Lucia screenshot at Hever Castle London Weekend Television (LWT)

The production was largely filmed in Rye and Winchelsea with Kent also featuring – Chilham is seen in episodes 1, 2 and 10, doubling as Risholme, with Lucia’s home in the Cumberland Lodge on The Street, Olga Braceley’s Home in the Old Rectory and the Tudor Lodge in the square doubling as the Ambermere Arms.

In episode 10, Hever Castle features as the residence of Poppy (Irene Handl), Duchess of Sheffield.

Chilham is a delightfully preserved Tudor village in the Ashford borough of Kent. It is a popular film location due to its stunning fifteenth century square with black and white timbered buildings, Jacobean castle, church, pub and school. Chilham has been chosen as a film location by many filming projects including Emma (2009) and Miss Marple – The Moving Finger (2005).

The thirteenth century double moated Hever Castle boasts formal Italian Gardens, ornamental lake, adventure playground and maze. The castle was once the childhood home of Anne Boleyn and has featured in a variety of productions including The Apprentice (2014), Inkheart (2008) and Anne of a Thousand Days (1969).

Mapp & Lucia aired in 1985–1986 and is now available on DVD.

 

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

 


Henry VIII (1979)

image of a man and women dressed in tudor costumes stood next to each other in front of a pillar

Henry VIII screenshot © BBC

Director: Kevin Billington

Writer: William Shakespeare (play),

Stars: John Stride, Timothy West, Ronald Pickup, Claire Bloom, Julian Glover, Jeremy Kemp, Peter Vaughan

Henry VIII dvd cover- images of two tutor men on a black background. Henry VIII written in white underneath

Henry VIII dvd cover © BBC

Production Company: BBC, Time-Life Television Productions

Kent Locations Used: Hever Castle, Leeds Castle, Penshurst Place

Henry VIII is a BBC television film adaptation of William Shakespeare’s original play which provides a dramatized account of the events surrounding the divorce of Henry VIII from his first wife, Katherine of Aragon.

Originally broadcast in February 1979; the film was produced as part of BBC Shakespeare (1978-85), a series of Shakespeare plays adapted for television.

The film was directed by Kevin Billington (Outside Edge, The Good Soldier) with John Stride (Macbeth, The Omen) playing Henry VIII alongside Timothy West (Crime and Punishment, Eastenders), Ronald Pickup (Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, The Chronicles of Narnia), Claire Bloom (The King’s Speech, Clash of the Titans), Julian Glover (For Your Eyes Only, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade), Jeremy Kemp (Z-Cars, Space: 1999) and Peter Vaughan (Porridge, Game of Thrones).

The entire film was shot on location at Hever Castle, Leeds Castle and Penshurst Place, which all have an association with the historical figures within the play.

Leeds Castle doubles as Henry VIII’s palace. Both interiors and exteriors are used to create a sense of real grandeur.

Penshurst Place was used for a number of scenes, including Katherine of Aragon’s residence, a council chamber at Westminster. Baron’s Hall was used as a hall in Blackfriars when it announced that Henry and Katherine shall split. One of the halls is used to double as a room in York Place where Cardinal Wolsey holds a ball; this is where Henry VIII and Anne Bullen first meet.

The timber-clad section of Hever Castle is used to double as streets in Westminster where two gentlemen meet to discuss the royal divorce.

Leeds Castle is set in 500 acres of beautiful parkland and formal gardens and has been used in various productions, including the ITV version of Henry VIII (2003), Lady Jane (1987) and Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949) .

Hever Castle is a thirteenth century castle which was once home to Anne Boleyn; it boasts formal Italian gardens and an ornamental lake. This location has also been used in various historical dramas, including Walking through History (2013), Inkheart (2008) and Anne of The Thousand Days (1969).

Penshurst Place is a Medieval and Tudor Fortified Manor set in gorgeous parkland. It is a film friendly location, having been used in notable productions such as Wolf Hall (2015), The Great Fire (2014) and Merlin (2008).

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

This film was originally broadcasted on 25th February 1979, and is available to purchase on DVD.

 

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


Anne of The Thousand Days (1969)

Anne standing by the fountain at Penshurst Place, Penshurst place can be seen in the background

Anne by the fountain at Penshurst Place © Universal Pictures

Director: Charles Jarrott
Writer:  Maxwell Anderson (Play), Bridget Boland, John Hale, Richard Sokolove
Starring: Richard Burton, Geneviève Bujold, Anthony Quayle, John Colicos, Irene Papas
Production Company: Hal Wallis Productions
Kent Locations Used:  Hever Castle, Penshurst Place
Geneviève Bujold as Anne walking down steps on a garden path, her hand is raised

Geneviève Bujold as Anne © Universal Pictures

Based on the Broadway play by Maxwell Anderson, Anne of the Thousand Days (1969) is an account of the rise and fall of the beautiful and ambitious Anne Boleyn (Genevieve Bujold), second wife of the tyrannical Henry VIII (Richard Burton).

The film was nominated for 10 Oscars in 1970, including best picture and won best costume design.  It also won Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Actress and Best Director.

Hever Castle was an obvious choice for Anne Boleyn’s home, as it was her real-life home. It was used for the scenes where King Henry VIII visits the Boleyn household to pursue Anne Boleyn.

The stunning Kentish scenery of both Hever Castle and Penshurst Place bought this Oscar winning tale to life with Hever Castle being an obvious choice to double as Anne Boleyn’s home, as it was her real-life home and was used for the scenes where King Henry VIII visits the Boleyn household to pursue Anne Boleyn. Hever Castle is now a visitor attraction and includes many 16th century Tudor portraits, furniture and tapestries. The castle also displays two prayer books, signed and inscribed by Anne Boleyn.  The castle has been used for other film projects such as Inkheart (2008)The Other Boleyn Girl (2008) and Lady Jane (1987).

Exteriors of Penshurst Place were used to double as the King’s court and the stunning formal Tudor gardens were used for the scenes where King Henry VIII is shooting targets when Anne Boleyn joins him as well as  where she announces her pregnancy. The Gardens, arranged into “garden rooms” each with a different style and character are also open to visitors between March and November. Penshurst Place has been seen on screen in projects such as The Hollow Crown – Henry V (2012) and Merlin (2008).

Anne of The Thousand Days also features in the Kent Film Office Tudor(ish) Trail which celebrates Kent’s Tudor history and film connections.

Anne of the Thousand Days (1969) was released on Wednesday 18th December 1969 and is now available to buy on DVD.

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