Maidstone

Rustom (2016)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Rustom film poster with army officer on the cover. Image of women is faintly shown behind. Rustom is written on top in white

Rustom film poster © Friday Filmworks

Director: Dharmendra Suresh Desai

Writer: Vipul K. Rawal

Starring: Akshay Kumar, Ileana,  Arjan Bajwa

Production Co.: Cape of Good Films, Kriarj Entertainment, Plan C Studios, Zee Studios

Kent Locations Used: The Chequers Inn pub in Aylesford, Canterbury, Maidstone River Path and County Hall, Leeds Castle, Dover seafront, South Foreland Lighthouse, The Historic Dockyard Chatham

Rustom is a Hindi  murder mystery romance inspired by the true 1959 legal KM Nanavati v. State of Maharashtra, which changed the face of the India judicial system. Kawas Manekshaw Nanavati (Akshay Kumar) was a naval officer who was tried for killing his English-born wife’s lover, Prem Ahuja.  The murder case is still famous on the subcontinent and the film’s tagline is “3 shots that shocked the nation”.

The film is directed by Dharmendra Suresh Desai (Special 26, Players), written by Vipul K. Rawal and stars Akshay Kumar (Singh Is Kinng, Housefull 2), Ileana (Barfi!, Devadasu), and Arjan Bajwa (Son of Sardaar, Bobby Jasoos).

The Rustom production filmed on location in Kent in April 2016 for the romantic montage where Rustom (Akshay Kumar) and Cynthia (Ileana D’Cruz) visit England including The Chequers Inn pub in Aylesford, Canterbury, Maidstone River Path and County Hall, Leeds Castle, Dover seafront and  South Foreland Lighthouse.

The Historic Dockyard Chatham features as the Bombay naval port and HMS Cavalier as the destroyer on which he serves. A snowy Commissioners House also features in a montage and Slip 5 in a dinner scene between Rear Admiral Prashant Kamath (Parmeet Sethi)and Cynthia (Ilene D’Cruz).

Aylesford is a picturesque village located on the banks of the River Medway complete with a Norman Church and Victorian houses. It has previously featured in Half A Sixpence (1967).

Canterbury is a historic cathedral city with parks and open spaces, shopping areas, bars and restaurants and has previously featured on screen in projects such as Take Me Out (2010-2019) Terry and Mason’s Great Food Trip (2015) The Apprentice (2014).

The county town of Kent, Maidstone has many parks, shopping areas and sports facilities and is home to The Maidstone Studios. Maidstone has been used to film The Great Interior Design Challenge (2014), Couples Come Dine With Me (2014) and Don’t Tell the Bride (2013), to name a few.

Leeds Castle is a romantic castle with medieval themed rooms, 1920’s style interiors and original marble bathrooms. The large 500 acres estate boasts beautiful gardens, a moat, woodlands, maze with shell grotto and an aviary. The castle has been used to film The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses (2016), Henry VIII (2003) and Lady Jane (1987).

South Foreland Lighthouse in Dover, is a Victorian lighthouse landmark along the White Cliffs of Dover. The Dover area has been used for projects including Mr Selfridge Series 3 (2015), The Apprentice (2015) and On A Clear Day (2005).

The Historic Dockyard Chatham is a 17th century dockyard set over 80 acres, containing over 100 buildings dating from the Georgian and Victorian Periods. It has been used extensively for filming, appearing in productions such as Call the Midwife (2016), Les Miserables (2013) and Downton Abbey (2013).

Rustom was released worldwide on 12th August 2016 and is now available for DVD purchase.

 

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

Children in Need – The Rickshaw Challenge (2015)

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Pudsey the bear in the studio with Team Rickshaw sat on the sofa behind him

The One Show’s Rickshaw challenge 2015 – Team Rickshaw. (l-r) Alex Jones, Lucy, George G, Pudsey, Erin, Amira, Matt Baker, George D, Elliot © BBC

Kent Locations: Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone, Chatham, The Historic Dockyard Chatham, Rochester, Gravesend, Dartford

Returning in 2015 for its fifth year is The One Show Rickshaw Challenge, in aid of BBC Children in Need. With help from The One Show presenters Matt Baker and Alex Jones, six young riders embark upon an epic 470-mile journey pedalling a rickshaw.

Across eight days the team will cycle from Land’s End to the East End, beginning their pursuit on Friday 6th November 2015. The end of Day Six will see the team touch down in Brighton, before beginning the sixty miles plus journey to The Historic Dockyard Chatham the following day. The expedition will take the team through a number of towns in Kent, including parts of Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone, Chatham, Rochester, Gravesend and Dartford .

The cumulative total of money raised so far by The Rickshaw Challenge is over £7.9 million, all of which goes towards supporting disadvantaged young people in the UK.

Tunbridge Wells is a town in West Kent, home to a host of historic buildings, specialist shops, churches and a busy town centre. Productions which have previously filmed in the area include Britain’s Best Bakery (2012), Terry and Mason’s Great Food Trip (2015) and Hunted (2012).

Maidstone is the county town of Kent, home to a number of parks and shopping facilities, as well as The Maidstone Studios which is the UK’s largest independent High Definition TV studio facility. Productions which have filmed in the area include Take Me Out (2015), Later… with Jools Holland (2015) and Couples Come Dine With Me (2014).

Rochester offers beautiful cobbled streets, parks and the Cathedral and castle while Chatham is home to The Historic Dockyard Chatham, Day Seven’s final destination before Team Rickshaw makes their way up to Elstree to finally complete the challenge.  The Historic Dockyard Chatham is a popular filming location on account of its Georgian and Victorian architecture and authentic cobbled streets (which the rickshaw riders might be hoping to avoid!). The Medway area has previously been seen on screen in Jekyll and Hyde (2015), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (2012) and Sherlock Holmes (2009).

The town of Gravesend is situated in North West Kent, with exceptional transport links up to London. Gravesend has previously hosted productions including Babylon (2014), The Interceptor (2015) and Great British Railway Journeys (2014).

Dartford is situated close to Bromley and Bexley and boasts great travel links in and out of Kent. Full of quaint architecture and great guesthouses and hotels, Dartford has hosted other productions in the past such as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010) and The Inbetweeners (2010).

Tune into The One Show on BBC One at 19:00, BBC One to follow Team Rickshaw’s progress from Friday 6th November until Friday 13th November, when the Children in Need Appeal Show will be airing.

 

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

Gadget Man (2014)

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Gadget Man Presenter Richard Ayoade in an orange suit and blue tie

Gadget Man Presenter Richard Ayoade © Channel 4/North One Television

Production company: North One Television

Kent Locations: House in Faversham, Wye National Nature Reserve, Leeds Castle, Teapot Island Maidstone

Channel 4’s Gadget Man returns as Richard Ayoade takes a look at the world of gadgets and how new technology can help to make everyday life a little bit easier.

In the third series, Richard finds gadgets that can help tasks such as cooking, shopping, moving house and even going out or staying in. Guest stars who help Richard test the latest technology offerings include Richard E Grant, Allison Steadman, Tim Vine and David Mitchell.

Richard Ayoade and Phill Jupitus sitting on chairs with gadgets on their legs

Richard Ayoade and Phill Jupitus © Channel 4/North One Television

The Gadget Man team visited Kent where they used a private residence in Faversham for Richard’s house which features throughout the series as well as Wye National Nature Reserve in Ashford and Leeds Castle which are in episode three where Richard looks at gadgets that can solve “staycation” issues.

Faversham is a beautiful, historic market town which boasts nearly 500 listed buildings and is set on the picturesque Faversham Creek. It has many restaurants, shops, attractions and beautiful walks. The area has been used as a film location for productions such as Great British Railway Journeys (2014), Channel 4 drama Southcliffe (2013).

The 133 hectares of Wye National Nature Reserve consists of chalk grassland and woodland on steep coombes and offers spectacular views over the Romney Marsh and Weald. Ashford and surrounding areas has been used for filming with previous visiting productions including The Monuments Men (2014) and Emma (2009).

Leeds Castle is set in 500 acres of beautiful parkland and formal gardens in Maidstone. The castle itself was built in 1119 and has state rooms a mote. Leeds Castle has previously been featured in productions such as Lady Jane (1987) and Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949).

Don’t miss Gadget Man which starts on Monday 25th August 2014 at 20:30 on Channel 4 and the staycation episode will be shown on Monday 8th September 2014 at 20:30 on Channel 4.

 

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. 

 

Draw It! (2014)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Mel Giedroyc wearing a yellow jacket standing in front of a podium in front of pictures

Mel Giedroyc presenting Draw It © Channel 4

 

Production company: Victory Television

Kent Locations: The Maidstone Studios

Draw It! is a new Channel Four game show hosted by Mel Giedroyc based on the hugely popular smart phone app Draw Something, and is filmed at Kent’s very own The Maidstone Studios.

Each show sees two teams, made up of one contestant and one celebrity, go head to head in three rounds of drawing challenges, and the contestant with the least points is eliminated at the end of the show. With a £5000 prize up for grabs, it’s all to play for in the battle of the doodlers!

Celebrities which feature in the show include radio and television broadcaster Terry Wogan, actress and presenter Nadia Sawalha, dance expert Louie Spence, comedian and actress Jenny Eclair and Strictly Come Dancing Star Anton Du Beke.

The Maidstone Studios is set over an 11 acre site and boasts 5 studios, a sound stage, post production facilities, storage and over 400 free parking spaces. Hit shows such as The Split (2020)have been filmed here.

Don’t miss Draw It! which starts on Channel 4 on Monday 5 May 2014 at 16:30.

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

Sport Relief’s Top Dog (2014)

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Gaby Roseline crouched down next to three dogs. Sport relief's top dog written in red writing

Gaby Roseline © BBC Sport Relief/Jon Cottam

Production Company: BBC

Kent Locations used: The Maidstone Studios

Gabby Roseline presents Sport Relief’s Top Dog, a fun new game show testing the talents of various dogs of all shapes and sizes in aid of Sport Relief. In every episode there are two teams, each consisting of a celebrity and their dog, a professional dog and their handler and a pet dog with their owner.

Peaches Geldof- Cohen and her dog Parper doing a dog obstacle course.

Peaches Geldof- Cohen and her dog Parper © BBC Sport Relief/Jon Cottam

The 15-part series consists of 12 knockout rounds where each week a new team faces various fun challenges and games is filmed at The Maidstone Studios. The only way to stay in the competition is to defeat their component using only sausages to help them! Each hopeful is competing for the title of Top Dog which will be announced during Sport Relief on the 21st March.

Celebrity team captains include Sally Gunnell with Diggy the Labrador, Peaches Geldof-Cohen  with her retriever Parper, Hollyoaks actress Gemma Merna and her dog Paige, presenter Matthew Wright with his schnauzer, Wiggy and Chef Ainsley Harriot with his golden Labrador, Bobby.

The Maidstone Studios is the UK’s largest independent HD TV studio facility consisting of 5 studios, a sound stage, post production facilities, storage and over 400 free parking spaces. The studios has previously welcomed productions such as Take Me Out (2010-2019) and Got To Dance.

Don’t miss the show which begins on the 3 March 2014 on BBC2 at 18:30 and will be shown at the same time, every week day, until the final on the 21 March 2014.

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

Piggy (2012)

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Paul Anderson as Piggy stands in front of a torn, dirty white sheet. He is wearing a black hoody with the hood up and a pig nose mask. He is staring straight at the camera.

Piggy (2012) © DP Films

Writer / Director: Kieron Hawkes
Starring: Martin Compston, Paul Anderson, Neil Maskell
Production Company: DP Films, Fulwell 73
Kent Locations Used: Invicta House, The Hive, Manor Way Business Park, Darenth Valley Hospital

Piggy (2012) follows Joe, a mild-mannered anxious man whose life is thrown into turmoil after the violent murder of his brother. He finds an unusual friendship in the brash, hot-tempered Piggy who soon drags Joe into a world of danger, violence and revenge.

Written and directed by Kieron Hawkes (Intergalactic, Fortitude) in his debut, Piggy stars Martin Compston (Our House (2022), Line of Duty) as Joe, Paul Anderson (Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011), Legend) as Piggy and Neil Maskell (Bull (2021), Klokkenluider (2023)) as Joe’s brother John.

The film was shot in various locations across Kent. Joe’s office was filmed in the Post Room of Invicta House in Maidstone. Joe and Piggy attack a mugger at The Hive in Gravesend, and later drive through Manor Way Business Park in Swanscombe. After his brother is attacked, Joe visits him in Darenth Valley Hospital in Dartford.

As the county town of Kent and seat of local governance, Maidstone plays an important part in Kent’s history. The River Medway runs through Maidstone’s town centre, linking it with nearby towns Rochester and Chatham. The town has many shops, restaurants, bars, churches and a museum. Maidstone has also featured in They Came from Somewhere Else (1984), Missing (2009-2010) and Rustom (2016).

Gravesend is a town in northwest Kent on the south bank of the Thames. The towns pier is the oldest remaining cast-iron pier in the world, and the town also features an unspoilt promenade, high street and two shopping centres. Island (2011), The Interceptor (2015) and The Escape (2018) also filmed in Gravesend.

Piggy (2012) was released on Friday 4th May 2012 and is available to purchase on Amazon.

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

The Long Lonely Walk (2010)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Actor walking down the street towards a red double decker bus, There is police tape behind him

Scene from The Long Lonely Walk © Third Light Films

Kent Film maker Leon Chambers returns with a new film

Director & Writer: Leon Chambers

Production Company: Third Light Films

Kent Filming Locations: Mid Kent College

The Long Lonely Walk follows the a bomb disposal expert, a young boy and an elderly woman as they reach a life defining moment. The cast includes Jeremy Sheffield (Holby City and contestant on Dancing On Ice 2010), Tessa Peake-Jones (Only Fools and Horses) and Sylvia Syms (The Queen).

Close up of Christian Lees staring at the camera in school uniform. Another actor can be seen looking at him behind,

Christian Lees in The Long Lonely Walk © Third Light Films

The film cost just £23,500 to make and was shot both at Mid Kent College in Maidstone and at Pinewood Studios. The Long Lonely Walk was partly financed by the Cranbrook Film Society and by those who attended a premier of the film at the Curzon Cinema in London in January.

Last year, Leon Chambers’s short film entitled ‘Stolen Youth’ received critical acclaim by winning Best UK Short at the Canary Wharf Film festival and making the official selection at Sundance and Palm Springs among others.

The Long Lonely Walk is now available on DVD and was shown at the following festivals.

The Crystal Palace Film Festival – 19th July
 The Sacramento Film and Music Festival  – 25th July  
 LA Shorts Fest – July 28th. This prestigious festival is recognised by the Academy Awards.
 
The film has also been awarded the following at the Accolade Competition Award of Merit: Short Film Award of Excellence: Sound – Overall Impact

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

Missing (2009)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Pauline Quirke and Mark Wingett looking through a white wooden window, the sea can be seen behind them

Pauline Quirke and Mark Wingett in Missing © BBC

Director: Laurence Wilson 

Writers: Roy Boulter, Matt Leys, Ann-Marie Di Mambro, Karen McLachlan

Starring: Pauline Quirke, Felix Scott, Pooja Shah, Mark Wingett, Adjoa Andoh

Production Companies: Leopard Films

Kent Filming Locations: Maidstone and Dover – Port and White Cliffs.

Mark Wingett, Pauline Quirke, Pooja Shah and Felix Scott near the Port of Dover with signs and a bridge behind them

Mark Wingett, Pauline Quirke, Pooja Shah and Felix Scott near the Port of Dover © BBC

Missing is a new daytime crime about a small and under-sourced Missing Persons Unit (MPU) based in Dover which is headed up by DS Mary Jane Croft.

The 5 part drama was made to accompany the second series of

Missing: Live 

which examines real life cases and attempts to reunite people with their love ones.

Starring Pauline Quirke (Broadchurch, Birds of a Feather), Felix Scott (Inception, Blitz Blitz), Pooja Shah (EastEnders, Bend It Like Beckham), Mark Wingett (The Bill, Snow White and the Huntsman) and Adjoa Andoh (Invictus, Casualty).

The production visited Kent where they transformed the old Maidstone Borough Council offices on the London Road into their Police Headquarters. The programme also filmed at various locations in and around Maidstone as well as visiting Dover including the Port and White Cliffs.

The county town of Kent, Maidstone boasts shopping areas, bars and restaurants and is home to The Maidstone Studios which is the UK’s largest independent High Definition TV studio facility. Productions which have filmed in the area include Children in Need – The Rickshaw Challenge (2015)Later… with Jools Holland (2015) and Couples Come Dine With Me (2014).

Dover is best known for the world famous White Cliffs of Dover along with the Port of Dover and Dover Castle. The Dover area has previously featured on screen in The Tunnel: Sabotage (2016), Wolf Hall (2015) and Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows (2011).

The first episode aired on BBC One on the 16th March 2009 at 14:15.

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

Dani’s House (2008)

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Dani Harmer standing in front of a green and blue wall with a window, staring into the camera.

Dani Harmer in Dani’s House © BBC

Directors: Dex McCarthy, Jeremy Wooding 

Writers: Paul Rose, Emma Ko, Holly Lyons, Kay Stonham, Joe Williams 

Kent Filming Locations: Secret Location in the Maidstone Area

An aspiring actress, Dani is forever left to look after her irritating younger brother Max (Sebastian Applewhite), his side-kick Ben (James Ghandi) and the new baby. Trapped in the house Dani and her friends Toby (Harry Culverhouse) and Sam (Klariza Clayton) imagine that they are part of an elaborate television show called Dani’s House.

Unbeknown to the children, their make-believe show has attracted a rather unique audience:Zang and Zark, a couple of aliens, who display a remarkable resemblance to Dani and Toby!

The series plays host to many guest stars including Lil Chris, Matt Di Angelo and Kent’s own Shaun Williamson and was filmed entirely in Kent at a secret location near Maidstone.

Maidstone is the county town of Kent which has the River Medway running through it and boasts many parks, shopping areas, bars and restaurants and sports facilities. Nearby is lovely rural villages, and attractions such as Leeds Castle. The Maidstone area has been used for filming such as Rustom (2016) and  Couples Come Dine With Me(2014).

Dani’s House was shown on BBC One at 4.35 on Friday afternoons from February 2008.

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