Babylon (2014)

Jonny Sweet as Tom Oliver, James Nesbitt as Richard Miller and Paterson Joseph as Charles Inglis sitting at a desk in police uniforms

Jonny Sweet as Tom Oliver, James Nesbitt as Richard Miller and Paterson Joseph as Charles Inglis © Channel 4

Writers: Sam Bain, Jesse Armstrong

Starring: James Nesbitt, Brit Marling, Paterson Joseph, Adam Deacon, Jill Halfpenny

Production company: Nightjack Ltd

Kent Filming Locations: Metropolitan Police Training Ground, Gravesend

British comedy drama Babylon is about the people, politics and pressures in London’s police force and returns to Channel 4 for a six part series after a successful pilot episode.

With accusations of racism, the use of lethal force, and corruption, Commissioner Richard Miller (James Nesbitt), who has the impossible job of keeping the capital safe, calls in American visionary from the world of new media Liz Garvey (Brit Marling) for a public image revamp.

Babylon is written by duo Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong (Peep Show, Fresh Meat) and stars an array of familiar face including James Nesbitt (The Hobbit, Cold Feet), Brit Marling (Another Earth, The East), Adam Deacon (Kidulthood, Adulthood), Paterson Joseph (Green Wing, Peep Show) and Jill Halfpenny (Waterloo Road, Eastenders).

The pilot episode was shown in February 2014 and was created and directed by the legendary Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, Trainspotting) who is the executive producer for the series.

The production visited the Metropolitan Police Training Ground in Gravesend where Robbie (Adam Deacon) trains at the firing range and features in episode two.

The Metropolitan Police Training Ground in Gravesend is a specialized training facility and has previously featured in Incendiary (2008).

Babylon starts on Channel 4 on Thursday 13th November 2014 at 22:00.

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


Canterbury Tales (2003)

Canterbury Tales DVD cover- montage of images from the film, with canterbury tales written in black above

Canterbury Tales DVD cover © BBC

Starring: Julie Walters, James Nesbitt, Billie Piper, John Simm, Keeley Hawes, Dennis Waterman

Production Company: Ziji Productions, BBC

Kent Locations: Rochester Castle, Cathedral, Chertsey Gate, the High Street and Esplanade, River Medway, Stangate Creek, Gravesend

Canterbury Tales is a BBC adaptation of a handful of Geoffrey Chaucer’s 14th century stories of the same name which are still set along the traditional Pilgrims’ route to Canterbury, but in the 21st century.

The stories include themes such as love, adultery, jealousy and revenge.

The six single dramas feature an all-star cast including Julie Walters (Mamma Mia!, Calendar Girls Billy Elliot), James Nesbitt (The Missing, Murphy’s Law, Cold Feet), Billie Piper (Doctor Who, Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Penny Dreadful), John Simm (Human Traffic, Life on Mars, The Village), Keeley Hawes (Death at a Funeral, The Bank Job, The Avengers) and Dennis Waterman (New Tricks, The Sweeney, Back in Business).

Rochester is the principal setting for The Pardoner’s Tale with the castle, Cathedral, Chertsey Gate, the High Street, Esplanade and various streets, pubs and restaurants featuring.

The river scenes in The Man of Laws’ Tale were filmed on the River Medway and The Medway Estuary.

Gravesend is the setting in The Seacaptain’s Tale where old waterfront warehouses, the pier and Town Pier Square feature.

Rochester is a historic city set on the River Medway offering a Medieval Cathedral and castle and cobbled streets with shops, pubs and restaurants. Rochester has previously featured in productions such as Jekyll and Hyde (2015), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (2012) and Great Expectations (1989).

The River Medway starts in Sussex and runs through Tonbridge, Maidstone and Medway before flowing into the Thames Estuary near Sheerness. Stangate Creek is part of the River Medway and has been used as a film location by productions such as Mr Turner (2014), Great Expectations (2012) and The Long Memory (1953).

On the south bank of the River Thames, Gravesend has a cast iron pier, promenade and high street as well as international links at the nearby Ebbsfleet International station. The area has previously been used as a film location in productions such as The Interceptor (2015) and Age of Heroes (2011).

The Canterbury Tales aired in 2003 and is now available for DVD purchase.

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