ITV Studios

Mr Bates vs the Post Office (2024)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
A group of 10 people stand against a red backdrop. The 9 in the background are holding up red and blue signs; the blue signs read ‘Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance’ and the red signs read ‘SOS: Support our Sub-postmasters’. In the foreground Toby Jones as Alan Bates wears a grey jumper with red writing reading ‘Justice for Post Office victims’.

Mr Bates vs the Post Office (2023) © ITV

Writer: Gwyneth Hughes
Starring: Toby Jones, Monica Dolan, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Alex Jennings, Ian Hart, Lia Williams, Will Mellor, Clare Calbraith, Shaun Dooley, Lesley Nicol
Production Company: ITV Studios, Little Gem
Kent Locations Used: BT Sevenoaks, Westerham, Allens Farm

Mr Bates vs the Post Office (2024) is an ITV miniseries chronicling the events behind the British Post Office Scandal, when hundreds of Post Office employees were wrongly accused of theft, fraud and false accounting due to a defective IT system.

Written by Gwyneth Hughes (Vanity Fair (2018), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (2012)), the miniseries stars Toby Jones (Empire of Light (2023), The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2022)) as Alan Bates, Monica Dolan (Eye in the Sky, Pride) as Jo Hamilton, Julie Hesmondhalgh (Catastrophe (2019), Coronation Street) as Suzanne Sercombe, Alex Jennings (The Halcyon (2017), The Lady in the Van (2015)) as James Arbuthnot, Ian Hart (Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Backbeat) as Bob Rutherford, Lia Williams (The Foreigner, Living (2022)) as Paula Vennells, Will Mellor (Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, No Offence) as Lee Castleton, Clare Calbraith (Unforgotten (2021), Grace) as Gina Griffiths, Shaun Dooley (Blood Moon (2014), It’s a Sin) as Michael Rudkin and Lesley Nicol (Downton Abbey, East is East) as Pam Stubbs.

The series filmed at various locations in Kent, including the BT building in Sevenoaks, Pilgrims Way in Westerham, and Allens Farm. Allens Farm features throughout the series as the home of Alan (Toby Jones) and Suzanne (Julie Hesmondhalgh), the BT Sevenoaks building doubles for both the Fujitsu Offices in Bracknell and the interior of Post Offices HQ, and Pilgrims Way features briefly in Episode 2 as Bob (Ian Hart) drives along a country road on the phone with Michael (Shaun Dooley).

The town of Sevenoaks has a variety of shops and restaurants as well as one of the oldest cricket grounds in the country – The Vine Cricket Ground. There are many stately homes and castles in the areas as well as beautiful countryside. Other productions to have filmed in Sevenoaks include Red, White & Royal Blue (2023), The Larkins (2021-2022) and Whitstable Pearl (2021-2022).

Situated on 28 acres of land, Allens Farm is a beautiful farmhouse with a barn in the heart of Sevenoaks district. Other productions to have filmed on the farm include The Third Day (2020) and The Cleaner (2021).

Mr Bates vs the Post Office (2023) will air on ITV on Monday 1st January 2024.

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

Treason (2022)

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Charlie Cox stands against a white background. He wears a black suit, with a white shirt and black tie. To the right-hand side of the image, written in red text, is the word ‘Treason’. Overlayed over Cox’s body is an upside-down image of Big Ben in red, dripping paint.

Charlie Cox in Treason (2022) © Netflix

Director: Louise Hooper, Sarah O’Gorman
Starring: Ciarán Hinds, Charlie Cox, Olga Kurylenko, Oona Chaplin
Production Company: Binocular Productions, Borderline Productions, Bryncoed Productions, ITV Studios
Kent Locations Used: Sessions House – Maidstone

Treason (2022) is a 5-part spy miniseries about MI6 agent Adam Lawrence whose career seemed set until Kara, a Russian Spy, wanders into his life. Adam must negotiate his complicated relationships with Kara and his wife Maddy, whilst all three try to expose each other’s secrets.

Directed by Louise Hooper (Flesh and Blood (2020), The Sandman) and Sarah O’Gorman (The Witcher, Cursed), Treason stars Ciarán Hinds (Above Suspicion (2010), Belfast), Charlie Cox (Legacy (2013), Daredevil), Olga Kurylenko (Oblivion, Quantum of Solace) and Oona Chaplin (The Crimson Field (2014), Game of Thrones).

Production visited Maidstone to film the exterior of local government office building Sessions House, which doubled as a Westminster building in Episode 4.

Sessions House is a Grade II listed office building complete with council chambers, lecture theatre and a grand staircase. It is situated in Maidstone, the county town of Kent. The building also features in Rustom (2016), doubling as The Ritz.

Treason will be released on Netflix on Monday 26th December 2022.

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

James Martin’s Great British Adventure (2019)

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James Martin pictured in a black jumper standing next to a red mini car as he leans on it. Grass and trees are in the background.

James Martin’s Great British Adventure Series ©ITV

Starring: James Martin
Production Company: ITV Studios
Kent Locations Used: Folkestone, Canterbury

The ITV series James Martin’s Great British Adventure stars James Martin (Saturday Kitchen) and follows his journey around the UK. Guests of the series include Nick Nairn, Tom Kitchin, Lisa Allen and Paul Rankin while talking to the locals and cooking food with them.

James’ culinary tour also takes him to the county of Kent, where he meets up with local chef and restaurateur Mark Sargeant, owner of the Rocksalt. The series also sees further cooking taking place with James cooking two recipes at Folkestone’s Harbour Arm . Folkestone is a popular filming location, some examples include Come Dine With Me (2012) and The Hotel Inspector (2018).

Additionally, production visited the Kentish Pip Cider Farm in Canterbury for some further filming. The City of Canterbury remains one of the largest tourism centres in England, known for its cobbled streets and wealth of historic buildings. Previous productions which filmed here were Terry and Mason’s Great Food Trip (2015) and A Taste of Britain (2014).

The series consists of twenty episodes, with one episode shown per day.

The first episode can be seen on ITV on Saturday 9th February 2019 at 2pm. The Kent episode will be episode 16 airing on Sunday 24th February 2019.

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

Mr Selfridge (2013-2016)

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MR_SELFRIDGE - JEREMY PIVEN as Harry Selfridge, KATHERINE KELLY as Mae Rennard, SACHA DHAWAN as Jimmy and ZOE RICHARDS and EMMA HAMILTON as THE DOLLY SISTERS

Mr Selfridge – Jeremy Piven as Harry Selfridge, Katherine Kelly as Mae Rennard, Sacha Dhawan as Jimmy and Zoe Richards and Emma Hamilton as The Dolly Sisters © ITV

Starring: Jeremy Piven, Frances O’Connor, Ron Cook, Kika Markham, Tom Goodman-Hill, Amy Beth Hayes, Samuel West
Production Company: ITV Studios, Masterpiece
Kent Locations Used: The Historic Dockyard Chatham, South Foreland Lighthouse, Kingsgate Bay

Mr Selfridge (2013-2016) was an ITV drama series based on the novel ‘Shopping, Seduction and Mr Selfridge’ by Lindy Woodhead. The series tells the true story of charismatic American entrepreneur Harry Gordon Selfridge who transformed the world of retail after opening the first ever Selfridges store in London in 1909.

The series stars Jeremy Piven (Serendipity, Entourage) as Harry Selfridge, Frances O’Connor (A.I. Artificial Intelligence, Mansfield Park) as Rose Selfridge, Ron Cook (On a Clear Day (2005), Hot Fuzz) as Mr Crabb, Kika Markham (Killing Me Softly, Outland) as Lois Selfridge, Tom Goodman-Hill (The Rizen (2017), Humans – Series 2 (2016)) as Mr Grove, Amy Beth Hayes (Three Little Birds, Lilyhammer) as Kitty Hawkins and Samuel West (Darkest Hour (2017), Howards End) as Frank Edwards.

The production came to The Historic Dockyard Chatham to film the exterior of Selfridges’ Oxford Street store throughout all four series.

Frances O’Connor, who plays Rose Selfridge, said: “The exterior set is down at Chatham in Kent and just looks like the outside of Selfridge’s. Then if you step a couple of feet one way you’re in the water of the docks. That’s the magic of filming. It really does look amazing.”

For Series 3, production visited the South Foreland Lighthouse in Dover to film Violette Selfridge (Hannah Tointon) and Victor Colleano (Trystan Gravelle) taking a drive to the coast.

Kingsgate Bay in Broadstairs features in Series 4, in a scene where Mr Grove and Miss Mardle (Amanda Abbington) visit the beach.

Harry Selfridge talks to Journalists in an airfield

Jeremy Piven as Harry Selfridge talks to Journalists © ITV

Set on the River Medway, The Historic Dockyard Chathamis a popular film location offering Georgian and Victorian architecture, maritime environment, dry dock, cobbled streets, and industrial buildings. The Historic Dockyard Chatham has previously featured in productions such as Victor Frankenstein (2015), Jekyll and Hyde (2015) and Great Expectations (2012).

South Foreland Lighthouse in Dover is a Victorian lighthouse landmark along the White Cliffs of Dover. The White Cliffs of Dover has been featured on screen in productions such as Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows (2011) and On A Clear Day (2005).

Kingsgate Bay is a beautiful sandy beach surrounded by chalk cliffs in Broadstairs. The Thanet area has welcomed filming from projects including The Lady in the Van (2015), Eastenders (2007-2023) and Die Another Day (2002).

The first episode of Mr Selfridge aired on ITV1 on Sunday 6th January 2013.

The final season of Mr Selfridge (2013-2016) began airing on ITV1 on Friday 8th January 2016 and all 4 series are now available to stream on ITVX.

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

Jekyll and Hyde (2015)

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Tom Bateman as Jekyll and Hyde - standing on a cobbled street with a bridge in the background at night

Tom Bateman as Jekyll and Hyde © ITV

Director: Colin Teague

Writer: Charlie Higson

Starring: Tom Bateman, Richard E Grant, Natalie Gumede

Production company: ITV Studios

Kent Locations Used: Rochester, The Guildhall Museum, The Historic Dockyard Chatham, Elmley Nature Reserve,  Fort Amherst

ITV’s new ten-part series Jekyll and Hyde is set in the 1930’s and features Robert Jekyll, the grandson of the original famed Dr Jekyll.

This new action adventure starts with Robert Jekyll living with his foster parents in India, ignorant of his family history and his mysterious, inherited condition. The drama begins when Robert Jekyll unveils the nature of his ‘curse’ which sees him transform into Hyde in moments of extreme anger, stress and when lives are threatened.

The show was conceived by Charlie Higson (Young Bond, The Enemy) and inspired by The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. Higson executive produces the series alongside Francis Hopkinson (Henry VIII, Colditz, Wallander) and Foz Allan (Wolfblood, The Dumping Ground, Robin Hood) as Series Producer.

Jekyll and Hyde cast on a cobbled street with old building behind them

Jekyll and Hyde cast © ITV

Directed by Colin Teague (Torchwood, The Last Drop) and starring Tom Bateman (Da Vinci’s Demons, The Tunnel) as Jekyll and Hyde alongside Richard E Grant (Doctor Who, Downton Abbey) and Natalie Gumede (Doctor Who, Coronation Street).

The Jekyll and Hyde production team chose to film in Kent between February and July 2015 at Rochester High Street where the exterior of Vraitch Vision doubles as Empire music hall in London and The Guildhall Museum features as the hotel where Dr Jekyll (Tom Bateman) first lodges when arriving in England. The Historic Dockyard Chatham was used to double as Gravesend Docks, Tenebrae offices and factory and various areas of the site feature as London Streets and markets.

Elmley Nature Reserve features in episode three as the setting for Maggie’s (Niamh Walsh) country house, where Robert Jekyll, Garson (Donald Sumpter), Max Utterson (Christian McKay) and Hils (Ruby Bentall) visit before a showdown with The Cutter (Jason La Shard).  The Fort Amherst tunnels are used in episodes 9 and 10 where Jekyll finds out about the powers of The Incubus.

Rochester is a historic city with a Medieval Cathedral and castle. Productions such as  BBC’s The Mystery of Edwin Drood (2012) and Great Expectations (1989) have previously filmed in the city.

The Historic Dockyard Chatham is set across an 80 acre site with Georgian and Victorian historic buildings, a dry dock, cobbled streets and industrial buildings. The location has previously been used in Call the Midwife , Mr Turner (2015) and Les Miserables (2013).

Elmley Nature Reserve is a large expanse of marshland located on the Isle of Sheppey. The marshes have previously been used by productions such as Great Expectations (2012), Great British Railway Journeys (2014) and A Taste of Britain (2014).

Based in Chatham, Medway is Georgian Fortress, Fort Amherst which is in a 17 acre park like setting with large tunnel complex, woodland, WW2 gun battery and sloping grassland. Fort Amherst has also been used as a filming location by Partners in Crime (2015), Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011) and The Mission (1987).

Don’t miss Jekyll and Hyde which starts on Sunday 25th October at 18:30 on ITV.

 

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

Couples Come Dine With Me (2014)

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close up of a dinning table with striped chairs and wine glasses

Couples Come Dine With Me © Channel 4

 

Production company: ITV Studios, Shiver Productions

Kent Locations: Bearsted, Kings Hill, Maidstone

Channel 4’s popular show returns with a twist: in this series, couples work together to host the best dinner party for a cash prize!

Come Dine With Me started in 2005 and has proved very popular with audiences. In episode 10 of the new series, the show follows three West Kent couples, including married West End performers Millie and Andy, newlyweds Sam and Emma and dinner party fanatics Alex and Richard. Whose efforts will be judged victorious?

The production filmed the West Kent contestants in and around their homes in Kings Hill , Maidstone and Bearsted.

Maidstone lies on the River Medway and is the county town of Kent offering shopping areas and parks. It is close to many tourist attractions, such as Kent Life and Leeds Castle. Maidstone is also home to The Maidstone Studios which has hosted filming for TV productions such as Draw It .

Bearsted is a village near Maidstone and boasts shops, pubs and sports clubs in a countryside setting.

Kings Hill is a housing and business development built on an airfield site which was used in Channel 4’s Cape Wrath (2008).

Don’t miss the Kent episode which will air on Friday 18th July 2014 at 17:00 on Channel 4.

 

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

 

Downton Abbey (2010 & 2013)

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Joanne Froggatt as Anna Bates, Baby George and Di Botcher as Nanny West

Joanne Froggatt as Anna Bates, Baby George and Di Botcher as Nanny West © ITV

Creator: Julian Fellowes
Starring: Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Brendan Coyle, Elizabeth McGovern
Production Company: ITV Studios, Carnival Films, Masterpiece, NBC Universal, WGBH Boston
Kent Locations Used: Kent & East Sussex Railway, The Historic Dockyard Chatham

Downton Abbey (2010-2015) was an ITV period drama charting the lives of the Crawley family and their servants in early 20th Century Britain.

Created by Julian Fellowes (Belgravia (2020), Vanity Fair (2005)), the series hosts a star of acting talent including Maggie Smith (The Lady in the Van (2015), A Room With a View (1986)) as Violet Crawley, Hugh Bonneville (The Gold (2023), The Monuments Men (2014)) as Robert Crawley, Michelle Dockery (The Gentlemen, Good Behaviour) as Lady Mary Crawley, Brendan Coyle (Me Before You, Lark Rise to Candleford) as John Bates and Elizabeth McGovern (Ordinary People, Once Upon a Time in America) as Cora Crawley.

The opening shot of Series 1 Episode 1 is a steam train going through the countryside and was filmed at Kent & East Sussex Railway.

In February 2013, the Downton Abbey team visited The Historic Dockyard Chatham where they used the Tarred Yarn Store to double as the workhouse where Mr Grigg (Nicky Henson) works in Series 4 Episode 1. Later, in Episode 2, the Ropery streets were used for the scenes where Lady Rose MacClare (Lily James) is at the market with James Kent (Ed Speleers) watching her.

Downton Abbey Screenshot - train going through the countryside

Downton Abbey Screenshot © ITV Studios, Carnival Films, Masterpiece, NBC Universal, WGBH Boston

Kent & East Sussex Railway is a ten-and-a-half-mile rural light railway from Tenterden to East Sussex. Kent & East Sussex Railway has previously featured in film and TV productions including Richard E. Grant on Ealing Comedies (2016), Mapp and Lucia (2014) and Last Passenger (2013).

The Historic Dockyard Chatham is a popular film location due to its varied and interesting areas such as the cobbled streets, church and over 100 buildings dating from the Georgian and Victorian periods. Previous productions that have shot here include Les Misérables (2013), Call the Midwife (2012-2024), and The Golden Compass (2007).

Series 1 of Downton Abbey originally aired on ITV from Sunday 26th September.

Series 4 of Downton Abbey aired on ITV from Sunday 22nd September 2013 and is now available to stream on Amazon Prime.

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