Kingsgate Bay

Mary Berry’s Absolute Favourites (2015)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Mary Berry standing in front of a kitchen with her elbow leant against the counter top

Mary Berry – ©Shine TV

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. 

Whistle and I’ll Come To You (2010)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
John Hurt wearing a dressing gown with one arm holding the dirty wall behind. Looking slightly distressed,.

John Hurt stars as James Parkin in Whistle and I’ll Come To You © BBC/Laurie Sparham

Starring: John Hurt, Gemma Jones, Lesley Sharp
Kent Filming Locations: Botany Bay, Kingsgate Bay and the Sea Pavilion at Walpole Bay

BBC2 drama Whistle and I’ll Come To You is a modern adaptation of M R James’ Edwardian ghost story which stars John Hurt (Merlin, Hellboy) as James Parkin who after leaving his wife in a nursing home travels to their favourite destination, a quiet seaside town. On a deserted beach he has an encounter with an apparition which continues to haunt him for the rest of his stay.

The one off drama was written and adapted by Neil Cross and explores the themes of ageing, supernatural with a psychological element throughout.

The drama also stars Gemma Jones (Bridget Jones Diary, Sense and Sensibility) and Lesley Sharp (Scott & Bailey, The Full Monty). 

Kingsgate Bay is a small sandy bay surrounded by white chalk cliffs with it having some of the best sea caves in the country and has been used by Sulphur and White (2019) . Nearby Botany Bay which also has a white cliff backdrop is a popular filming location and has been used for productions such as True Love (2012) and Hunderby (2012).

Whistle and I’ll Come To You was shown on BBC TWO 24th December 2010 at 22:00. 

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

 

Gypo (2006)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
an actor leaping off a concrete structure into the air

The Leap © Medb Films

Writer/Director: Jan Dunn

Producer: Elaine Wickham

Production Company: Medb Films, British Broadcasting Corporation, Distant Eye Films, Molinare Studio, Spotty Dog Films, VMI

Starring: Pauline McLynn, Chloe Sirene, Paul McGann, Rula Lenska

Kent Filming Locations: East Kent College, Kingsgate Bay, Margate, Pegwell Bay, Port of Ramsgate, Ramsgate, Royal Harbour Hotel and the Wig & Pen pub

Gypo is a 2005 feature length film follows the breakup of a working class family when their teenage daughter befriends a Romany Czech refugee.  Gypo told in three revelatory narratives, each from a particular character’s point of view, reveals how the disintegration of an ordinary working class family finally comes to a head when unexpected emotions are unleashed.  An innovative, gripping and engaging journey into the heart of a dysfunctional British family on the Kent coast, Gypo reveals how suburban fears and tabloid sensationalism have come to perpetuate the myths surrounding refugees.

Jan Dunn (The Calling, Ruby Blue) directs and writes the screenplay to her debut feature length film.  Pauline Mclynn (Father Ted, Eastenders, Angela’s Ashes) stars as Helen with a supporting cast including, Chloe Sirene (United 93, The Calling, Ruby Blue), Paul McGann (Alien 3, Withnail & I, Queen and the Damned).

The production filmed at a variety of locations in Thanet including East Kent College, Kingsgate Bay, Margate, Pegwell Bay, Port of Ramsgate, Ramsgate, Royal Harbour Hotel and the Wig & Pen pub.

 

 

Chloe Sirene and Freddie Connor running along Ramsgate Harbour with two security guards running after them

Chloe Sirene and Freddie Connor running along Ramsgate Harbour In Gypo 2005 © Medb Films

  

Director Jan Dunn and Gypo Crew at Ramsgate Harbour in front of the check in departures entrance.

Director Jan Dunn and Gypo Crew at Ramsgate Harbour © Medb Films

The Thanet area is made up of the towns Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs, and boasts beautiful sandy beaches and busy vibrant towns. The area has been featured on screen in productions including  The Tunnel: Sabotage (2016), The Lady in the Van (2015) and Top Dog Model (2012) .

Since their success with GYPO, Elaine Wickham and Jan Dunn, the team behind Medb Films have made a second feature set in East Kent, RUBY BLUE starring Bob Hoskins, as well as a short, MY MOTHER, both currently in post-production.

The film was released in November 2005 and is now available for DVD release.

With thanks to Jan Dunn and Elaine Wickham from Medb Films for the photos

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

Fox (1980)

Posted on 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.

Fox (1980) DVD Cover © Thames Television

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 10th March 1980 and Monday 2nd June 1980 and is currently available to purchase on DVD.

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

À nous les petites Anglaises (1976)

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Movie Poster - cartoon character of woman wearing swimming costume. A Nous Les Petites Anglaises! written on top

Movie Poster © Les Films Galaxie

Director / Writer: Michel Lang
Starring: Rémi Laurent, Stéphane Hillel, Véronique Delbourg
Production Company: Les Films Galaxie
Kent Locations Used: Ramsgate, Kingsgate Bay, Botany Bay, Port of Dover

À nous les petites Anglaises (1976) is a French coming-of-age film set in England in the summer of 1959. Two French boys Alain (Rémi Laurent) and Jean-Pierre (Stéphane Hillel) who have failed their English exams are sent to the South of England, in the hope to improve their English. However, the boys find it is easier to flirt with the other French schoolgirls.

The film is directed by Michel Lang (Tous vedettes, On n’est pas des anges… elles non plus) and stars Rémi Laurent (La Cage aux Folles, Les Plouffe), Stéphane Hillel (Le nouveau protocole, Á chacun son enfer) and Véronique Delbourg.

The film was filmed mainly in Ramsgate, the arcades, the Foy Boat, Royal Harbour and the main sands feature throughout the film. King George VI park in Ramsgate is used for the scenes where the boys take their dates to the park. Botany Bay and Kingsgate Bay features as the beach where the students and their dates have parties and go swimming. The Port of Dover is the place of arrival at the start of the film when Alain and Jean-Pierre arrive in the UK.

Ramsgate is a historic coastal town with beautiful beaches, cliff top walks, the only British Royal Harbour as well as a port. The town has been used as a film location for projects including Restoring Britain’s Landmarks (2015), True Love (2012) and Contraband (1940).

Kingsgate is a sandy bay surrounded by chalk cliffs that connects at low tide through Whiteness cliff arch to the beautiful Botany Bay. The beaches have featured in many different productions such as Mr. Selfridge Series 4 (2016) Mary Berry’s Absolute Favourites (2015) and Whistle and I’ll Come To You (2010).

The Port of Dover is one of the UK’s busiest Port, with cruise-liners, fright and cargo. This location has featured in Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows (2011), Albert’s Memorial (2010) and Diamonds Are Forever (1971).

À nous les petites Anglaises (1976) was released on Wednesday 7th January 1976 and is now available to purchase on DVD.

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