True Things (2022)

Posted on March 25, 2022 by Kent Film Office

Ruth Wilson as Kate leans against a grey concrete wall. She has long brown hair and is wearing a brown jacket with a fur collar. Tom Burke as Blond is leaning over her with his hands on the wall either side. He has dyed blond hair and a dark stubbly beard. He wears a worn black leather jacket.

True Things (2022) © BBC Films.

Writer: Harry Wootliff, Molly Davies,
Director: Harry Wootliff
Starring: Ruth Wilson, Tom Burke
Production Company: BBC Films, The Bureau
Kent Locations Used: Ramsgate, Margate Broadstairs, Kingsgate Bay

True Things (2022) follows Kate, a young woman living on the edge of society as she becomes intoxicated with a stranger who overturns her quiet lifestyle.

Based on the book of the same name by Deborah Kay Davies, True Things was adapted for the screen by Molly Davies and Harry Wootliff (Only You, Totally Frank) and stars Ruth Wilson (Luther, Saving Mr. Banks) as Kate, and Tom Burke (Only God Forgives, The Souvenir) as Blond, the man she falls in love with.

Production based themselves in Kent for the majority of their location filming.

The film is set in the seaside town of Ramsgate, and various locations in the town feature throughout. Roads, such as Military Road and the Ramsgate Harbour Approach Tunnel, feature in driving sequences. Notable landmarks such as the Ramsgate lifts, Royal Harbour and the Jacobs Ladder steps appear in short establishing shots. The exterior and lobby of the Ramsgate The Argyle Job Centre on York Street doubles as the job centre where Kate works. The Royal Harbour Parade car park features as the location in which Blond and Kate have their first tryst, and appears later on in a night-time scene.

Ramsgate is a thriving seaside town with beautiful Victorian terraced housing, a Marina, Port and Promenade. The location often doubles for period London streets and has been used in the productions such as The Flood (2019) and Hard Sun (2018).

The interior and exterior of Kate’s flat was filmed at a private residence in Margate. Nasza Biedronk convenience store on Northdown Road also features as the supermarket in which Kate buys breakfast ingredients for Blond. Margate is a seaside town complete with sandy beach, harbour, amusement park, period housing and the ultra-modern art gallery Turner Contemporary. Margate has previously featured in Above the Clouds (2020) and Jellyfish (2018).

Harpers Bar in Broadstairs features as the pub that Kate visits with Blond, and later with her friend Alison (Hayley Squires). The terrace of The Royal Albion Hotel appears in the scene where Blond and Kate have a romantic lunch date. The old Canterbury Christ Church University campus in Broadstairs was used to film the interior of the job centre that Kate works at. Broadstairs is a traditional seaside town and home to Charles Dickens’ Bleak House. It features a sandy beach lined with traditional beach huts, Morelli’s cafe bar complete with original 1950’s interior, band stand and large Victorian terraces. Previous productions to film here include Dracula (2020) and Juliet, Naked (2018).

Kingsgate Bay is used for a dream sequence in the film’s opening. Kingsgate Bay is a small sandy bay surrounded by chalk cliffs that connects at low tide through Whiteness cliff arch to Botany Bay. It features a Victorian castle on top of the sea defences which were turned into private residences. Sulphur and White (2020) and Bhikari (2017) have previously filmed here.

True Things was released in UK cinemas on Friday 1^st April 2022.

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

The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2022)

Posted on December 27, 2021 by Kent Film Office

Benedict Cumberbatch, as Louis Wain, stands on a pebble beach, wearing sunglasses and looking off into the distance with a row of colourful houses in the distance. Cumberbatch, dressed in white trousers, navy blazer and blue and white striped t-shirt stands to the left with three women sitting on wooden stools with wooden easels in front of them to the right of the frame.

Benedict Cumberbatch, Stacy Martin, Sharon Rooney and Aimee Lou Wood in The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2022) on Walmer Beach, Deal © StudioCanal

Writer: Will Sharpe, Simon Stephenson
Director: Will Sharpe
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Claire Foy, Andrea Riseborough, Aimee Lou Wood, Toby Jones
Production Company: Amazon Studios, Film4, Shoebox Films, StudioCanal, SunnyMarch
Kent Locations Used: Botany Bay, Kingsgate Bay, Deal, Walmer, Kingsdown Leas

The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2022) is a biopic of the English painter who rose to fame at the end of the 19th century. Known for his unique paintings of anthropomorphised cats, Wain suffered from poor mental health in his later years and was hospitalised when his family could no longer care for him.

Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange, Sherlock) stars as the titular character Louis Wain, with Claire Foy (The Crown (2016 – 2020), A Very British Scandal (2021)) portraying the love of his life, Emily. The film also features Andrea Riseborough (Luxor, The Grudge), Aimee Lou Wood (Sex Education (2021)), Toby Jones (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Christopher Robin) and Sharon Rooney (My Mad Fat Diary, The Tunnel: Vengeance (2017)). The film was written and directed by Will Sharpe (Defending the Guilty, Flowers) alongside writer Simon Stephenson (Eleventh Hour, Paddington 2).

Various scenes were shot on the Kent coast, including at Botany Bay and Kingsgate Bay in Thanet, Kingsdown Leas, Deal seafront and the Coast House B&B in Walmer, Deal.

Botany Bay in Thanet is a popular filming location in Kent. The sandy bay is set against a beautiful white cliff backdrop which is popular with tourists. Previous productions to have made use of this stunning location include Sulphur and White (2020) and Series 2 of Humans (2016).

Kingsgate Bay is a small sandy bay surrounded by chalk cliffs that connects at low tide through Whiteness cliff arch to Botany Bay. The Victorian Kingsgate Castle is perched on top of the sea defences; it has since been turned into private residences. Other productions to have filmed at Kingsgate Bay include True Things (2022), Mr Selfridge (2013-2016), and Bhikari (2017).

Deal is a town on the south coast of Kent with a long naval history as one of the major Cinque Ports. Deal’s seafront has a large green, promenade, small fishing fleet, huts, sailing boats, lifeboat station as well as an extensive pebble beach. Liar Series 1 & 2 (2017 – 2020) and Baptiste (2019) both recently filmed here.

The Electrical Life of Louis Wain was released in UK cinemas on Saturday 1^st January 2022.

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

Bawri Chhori (How to Kill Your Husband) (2021)

Posted on February 14, 2021 by Kent Film Office

Aahana Kumra and Rumana Molla sit on a sandy beach. Behind them is a white chalk cliff. Kumra is wearing a black leather jacket, black turtleneck jumper and black skinny jeans and black shoes. She is crying dramatically. Molla has blue hair and wears blue skinny jeans, white trainers and a tan leather jacket. She is looking confusedly at Kumra.

Aahana Kumra and Rumana Molla on Kingsgate Bay in Bawri Chhori (2021) © Manna Pictures

Director: Akhilesh Jaiswal, Umang Dev Shukla
Starring: Aahana Kumra, Rumana Molla
Production Company: Big Films Media Fz, Jar Pictures, Manna Pictures
Kent Locations Used: Kingsgate Bay, Upper Farm Cottage

Bawri Chhori (How to Kill Your Husband) (2021) follows Radhika, a young woman who has left India for London on a journey to find her estranged husband and enact her revenge on him.

Directed by Akhilesh Jaiswal (Gangs of Wasseypur, Ugly) and Umang Dev Shukla, the film stars Aahana Kumra (Lipstick Under My Burkha, Rangbaaz) as Radhika and Rumana Molla (Dev DD, Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2) as Anna, the free-spirited woman she meets on her journey to England.

Production visited Kent to film on Kingsgate Bay in Broadstairs and at Upper Farm Cottage in Ashford, which doubled for Nani’s (Sohaila Kapur) cottage in Oxford. Filming also took place along Herne Bay seafront, but this did not make the final cut.

Kingsgate Bay is a small sandy bay surrounded by chalk cliffs and featuring a Victorian castle (now private residences) on top of the sea defences. Other productions to have filmed there include True Things (2022), Sulphur and White (2020) and Bhikari (2017).

Upper Farm Cottage is a detached timber frame house set in the quiet village of Rolvenden in Ashford. It is set within approximately 1 acre of land with far-reaching unspoilt countryside views.

Bawri Chhori (2021) did not receive an official UK release but is available to stream on Eros Now via Amazon Prime.

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

Devils (2021)

Posted on February 11, 2021 by Kent Film Office

Patrick Dempsey as Dominic Morgan & Alessandro Borghi as Massimo Ruggero are walking down a stairway outside with skyscrapers in the background.

Patrick Dempsey as Dominic Morgan & Alessandro Borghi as Massimo Ruggero
© Antonello&Montesi

Writer: Elena Buccacio, Mario Ruggeri, Alessandro Sermoneta, Ben Harris, Chris Lunt, Michael A Walker
Director: Nick Hurran, Jan Michelini
Starring: Patrick Dempsey, Alessandro Borghi, Laia Costa
Production Company: Lux Vide, Sky Italia
Kent Locations Used: Kingsgate Bay in Broadstairs

Based on the novel by Guido Maria Brera, Devils (2021) is a brand new TV series set in the London Offices of a large investment bank where Massimo Ruggero (Alessandro Borghi) discovers a worldwide financial conspiracy. Will he side with the perpetrators or expose the fraud?

The writing of the show is shared amongst several writes, including Elena Buccacio (Magie and Bianca Fashion Friends), Mario Ruggeri (Don Matteo), Alessandro Sermoneta (Once Upon a Time The City of Fools), Ben Harris (Dark Heart), Chris Lunt (Prey) and Michael A Walker (Primevil). It is directed by Nick Hurran (Sherlock), and Jan Michelini (Medici). Starring Patrick Dempsey (Grey’s Anatomy, Bridget Jones’ Baby), Alessandro Borghi (Romulus and Remus: The First King), and Laia Costa (Cities, Only You).

Production visited the Kingsgate Bay in Broadstairs to film a dialogue scene on the clifftops.

Broadstairs is a coastal town on the Isle of Thanet in the East Kent district. Productions that have also visited this area include and The Tunnel (2016) and Humans (2016).

Devils was released on Sky Atlantic and NowTV on Wednesday 17^th February 2021.

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

Sulphur and White (2020)

Posted on February 27, 2020 by Kent Film Office

Mark Stanley (David Tait) wearing a brown jacket and Emily Beecham (Vanessa Tait) wearing a blue floral dress, looking at each other with greenery and sky behind them.

Mark Stanley (David Tait) and Emily Beecham (Vanessa Tait) in Sulphur and White (2020) Copyright: IMDb Photo: Nick Wall

Writer: Susie Farrell
Director: Julian Jarrold
Starring: Mark Stanley, Emily Beecham, Anna Friel, Dougray Scott, Aftab Shivdasani
Production Companies: AMG International, EMU Films
Kent Locations Used: Thanet (Joss Bay, Kingsgate Bay, Botany Bay)

Feature film Sulphur and White (2020) is inspired by the true story of David Tait (Mark Stanley), a city trader and mountaineer, who tries to forget his traumatic childhood as he climbs the corporate ladder in the City Of London. When he meets Vanessa (Emily Beecham), David’s life begins to change.

Sulphur and White is directed by the award winning Julian Jarrold (Kinky Boots, Becoming Jane) and the screenplay was written by Susie Farrell (Dirty God). It stars Mark Stanley (Game of Thrones, Run) as David Tait and Emily Beechman (Daphne, Hail, Caesar!) as Vanessa. Co-stars also include Anna Friel (Marcella, Deep Water), Dougray Scott (EverAfter, Hitman) and Aftab Shivdasani (Mast, Kasoor).

Filming took place in Thanet, a district of Kent containing resort towns Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs with beautiful beaches.

The production visited Joss Bay in Broadstairs, a proclaimed surfer’s paradise, boasting a 200 metre-long stretch of sandy beach. Kingsgate Bay and Botany Bay afford incredible views of white cliffs and highly photographed white chalk stacks.

These coastal locations have attracted various film and TV productions over the years from French coming-of-age film À nous les petites Anglaises (1976), Mr Selfridge Series 4 (2016), Bhikari (2017) to most recently Dracula (2020).

Sulphur and White will be released in UK cinemas on Friday 6^th March 2020.

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

Britain’s Favourite Walks: Top 100 (2018)

Posted on January 24, 2018 by Kent Film Office

This new two-and-a-half-hour special for ITV pulls on its hiking boots for a countdown of Britain’s favourite walks. Britain’s Favourite Walks: Top 100, presented by Julia Bradbury (Countryfile) and Ore Oduba (The One Show), showcases the finest rambles, scrambles and ambles across the countryside and through cities to bring viewers the ultimate guide to the British outdoors.

Based on the results of the largest survey ever conducted, the top 100 have been voted for by more than 8,000 walking enthusiasts. Famous faces, including Ade Edmondson, Janet Street Porter and Robert Bathurst hit the trails to reveal their own favourites, joined by walking experts, nature aficionados and members of the public with extraordinary stories to provide a vivid insight into the the history of the trails.

The programme visits various locations in Kent on two walks, firstly the Ramsgate to Margate Walk featuring beautiful spots such as Kingsgate Bay and Botany Bay. The second walk, the Dover to Deal Walk features the stunning National Trust sites of the stunning White Cliffs of Dover and the charming South Foreland Lighthouse, as well as picturesque St Margarets at Cliffe and Deal.

The Kent Coastline is a popular location with TV productions for its dramatic scenery and convenient connections by road to London. Most recently it played a starring role in Sky Atlantic’s The Tunnel: Vengeance 2017 filmed entirely in Kent and Calais.

Kingsgate Bay, a small sandy bay surrounded by chalk cliffs that connects at low tide through Whiteness cliff arch to Botany Bay, was featured in Mr Selfridge Series 4 (2016), while both the White Cliffs of Dover and St Margarets Bay featured in Missing Series 1 & 2 (2009-2010).

The photograph shows Ramsgate Marina with small boats harboured

Pictured: Ramsgate Marina © ITV

Britain’s Favourite Walks: Top 100 will be broadcast on ITV at 7.30pm on Tuesday 30^th January 2018.

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

Bhikari (2017)

Posted on October 1, 2017 by Kent Film Office

Bhikari

Writer: Guru Thakur

Director: Ganesh Acharya

Starring: Swwapnil Joshi, Rucha Inamdar

Kent Locations Used: Kingsgate Bay, Botany Bay

Bhikari follows the story of a rich young man whom having finished his higher education in London, returns to India where his mother hands over the family business to him. However, unfortunate events lead Samrat to face difficult choices in order to save his mother’s life.

The film is was written by Guru Thakur, a popular lyricist and screen-writer, and directed by Ganesh Acharya (Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, PK), and stars Swwapnil Joshi (Mumbai Pune Mumbai, Duniyadari) and Rucha Inamdar (Children of War, Under the Same Sun)

Both Kingsgate Bay and Botany Bay in Thanet were used as locations as backdrops for dance sequences for the feature.

Botany Bay is has stunning white cliffs and chalk stacks and is great for rock pooling. Over the years, Botany Bay has also featured in productions such as Thaandavam (2012), Humans: Series 2 (2016) and True Love (2012).

Kingsgate Bay is known for its beautiful sandy beach and sea caves. Kingsgate Bay has featured in films and television series such as Mr Selfridge Series 4 (2016) and Whistle and I’ll Come to You (2010).

Bhikari will be released on Amazon Prime for viewing on demand in January 2018.

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

Coast Vs Country (2016)

Posted on November 12, 2016 by Kent Film Office

Presenters Kerr Drummond and Sara Damergi standing in the countryside with the sea in the background

Presenters Kerr Drummond and Sara Damergi © Channel 4

Production Company: Freeform Productions

Kent Locations Used: Broadstairs & Viking Bay, Joss Bay, Kingsgate Bay, Margate, Ramsgate, Canterbury, Herne Bay

Coast Vs Country is Channel 4’s brand new property series from the creators of A Place in the Sun, helping house hunters find their dream property either by the sea or in the countryside.

The series is presented by interior designer, Kerr Drummond and buying expert and current face of A Place in the Sun, Sara Damergi.

Kent features throughout the series including Thanet locations Broadstairs & Viking Bay, Joss Bay, Kingsgate Bay, Margate, Ramsgate, as well as Canterbury and Herne Bay.

The Thanet area boasts the beautiful coastal towns of Broadstairs, Ramsgate and Margate which has sandy bays, parks and open spaces, galleries and amusements. Thanet has been used for filming by productions such as The Lady in the Van (2015) and Eastenders (2015).

Herne Bay is a seaside town which has a pier and shingle beach and is set just outside of the historic City of Canterbury. Previous productions which have filmed in the area include Rustom (2016), Terry and Mason’s Great Food Trip (2015) and Got To Dance (2012).

The Kent episodes will air on Channel 4 on:

Tuesday 22^nd November 2016 – 16:00
Monday 28^th November 2016 – 15:00
Tuesday 13^th December 2016 – 15:00

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

Mr Selfridge Series 4 (2016)

Posted on January 7, 2016 by Kent Film Office

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, Katherine Kelly, Tom Goodman-Hill, Ron Cook, Amanda Abbington, Amy Beth Hayes, Trystan Gravelle, Sacha Dhawan

Production Companies: ITV Studios, Masterpiece

Kent locations used: The Historic Dockyard Chatham, Kingsgate Bay

Popular ITV drama Mr Selfridge, inspired by the life of charismatic American retail entrepreneur, Harry Selfridge, returns to ITV for a fourth and final series.

Originally based on the novel ‘Shopping, Seduction and Mr Selfridge’ by Lindy Woodhead, the new series is set in 1928, nearly a decade after the events of series three, as Harry Selfridge is enjoying the roaring 20’s at the pinnacle of his wealth and celebrity. Will Harry take a dramatic fall and fritter his money away in the glamourous casinos, or can he hold on the empire that he worked so hard to create?

Jeremy Piven (Entourage, Smokin’ Aces) takes the starring role of Harry Selfridge alongside a supporting cast of Katherine Kelly (Coronation Street), Tom Goodman-Hill (The Imitation Game, Everest), Ron Cook (Chocolat, Hot Fuzz), Amanda Abbington (After You’ve Gone, Sherlock), Amy Beth Hayes (Eva, Insoma), Trystan Gravelle (Anonymous, One Chance) and Sacha Dhawan (After Earth, The History Boys).

The Mr Selfridge team returned to The Historic Dockyard Chatham to film the exteriors of the Oxford Street store. They also filmed at Kingsgate Bay where two characters walk along the beach.

Set on the River Medway, The Historic Dockyard Chatham is 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).

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 (2015) and Die Another Day (2002).

Don’t miss the final series of Mr Selfridge, which starts on Friday 8^th January 2016 at 21:00 on ITV1.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZWdSeLPCHE&feature=player_embedded

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

Mary Berry’s Absolute Favourites (2015)

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Kent Film Office

Mary Berry standing in front of a kitchen with her elbow leant against the counter top

Starring: Mary Berry

Production Company: Shine

Kent Locations: Kingsgate Bay, Broadstairs

Mary Berry hits the road and revisits her favourite places in the UK, using them as inspiration for her food. As part of a six part series, the first episode will feature Kent.

Using simple and easy to follow recipes, Mary Berry’s dishes are extremely user friendly. The series shows Mary Berry travelling from the seaside to the countryside, to farmers’ markets and allotments; all the while suggesting that not a lot of money is needed to make a wholesome meal for the family.

Growing up in WWII Britain, Mary Berry explains that her mother made all their family meals from scratch. Mary demonstrates her joy of getting stuck in as she forages for wild mushrooms and learns to fly fish.

The first episode shows Mary Berry exploring the Kent Coast for seafood inspired meals and desserts. In the episode, Mary even visits Morellis Gelato in Broadstairs, which she admits has hardly changed at all since she first visited.

Broadstairs provides sandy beaches and relaxing cliff tops walks and has been a setting for many films, such as Edge of Heaven (2014 – some parts of Broadstairs were used to double as places in Margate), Only Fools and Horses: The Jolly Boys’ Outing (1989 – Broadstairs Police Station, which is now a pub on Gladstone Road) and many more.

Viewers can also see Broadstairs in last year’s The Great British Bake Off, as the team visited Viking Bay beach.

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

Kent's Premier Film Commission