To B&B The Best (2016)

Posted on July 13, 2016 by Kent Film Office

Lisa Holloway sitting at a desk looking up at the camera

To B&B The Best – Lisa Holloway

Production Company: Ricochet

Kent Location Used: Margate

To B&B The Best is a Channel 5 programme fronted by Lisa Holloway, who looks at the B&B revolution going on where ordinary homeowners attempt to turn amateur hotelier. Throughout the series, Lisa travels the UK to meet all manner of Brits who are keen on turning their empty rooms into potential goldmines.With her characteristic no-nonsense approach, a modest design budget and no shortage of ideas, Lisa will arm the homeowners with the tools to turn their spare rooms into superb places to stay. But will they follow Lisa’s plan and create successful B&B’s?

Episode twenty four of the new series features Margate in Kent, where she meets English language teacher Martine and her daughter Vibs, who’ve been hosting foreign language students for well over twenty years. Wishing to transform her Victorian townhouse into a boutique B&B, Lisa guides them and discovers the key to their future guests could lie in the towns emerging art scene.

Margate is a seaside town boasting a sandy beach, harbour, amusement park Dreamland, period housing and modern art gallery the Turner Contemporary. Previous filming here includes The Tunnel: Sabotage (2016), Coast (2014), Last Orders (2002) and many more.

The series runs weekdays at 11:15 on Channel 5 and the Kent episode of To B&B The Best will air on Thursday 14th July on Channel 5 at 11.15.

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

You Are Whole (2016)

Posted on June 30, 2016 by Kent Film Office

You Are Whole screenshot

Writer/Director: Laura Spini

Starring: Fred Melamed

Kent Locations Used: Studd Hill, Herne Bay and Margate

Laura Spini’s directorial debut short, You Are Whole, is a dark comedy, following Norman Pugg (played by Hollywood actor Fred Melamed), a spiritual teacher visiting houses in a small British sea-side town. He is soon mistaken for a serial killer, as he seems to leave a trail of deaths across the town. The short film was selected for the Edinburgh International Film Festival, Palm Springs International Shortfest and the London Short Film Festival.

Kent locations used are both Herne Bay and Margate.

Herne Bay is a coastal resort which is home to the world’s first free standing purpose built clock tower, and boasts a beautiful beach and seafront. Previous filming has taken place here for Holiday of My Lifetime with Len Goodman (2016), Boomers (2014 and 2016) and Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em (1973).

Margate is a seaside town complete with sandy beach, harbour, amusement park, period housing and ultra-modern art gallery Turner Contemporary. Previous filming here includes The Tunnel: Sabotage (2016), Coast (2014), Edge of Heaven (2014) and many more.

You Are Whole is available to view now: https://vimeo.com/118488026

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

Holiday of My Lifetime with Len Goodman (2016)

Posted on February 22, 2016 by Kent Film Office

Holiday of My Lifetime Series 2, Len Goodman and Eve Pollard sitting at a silver table in Margate

Holiday of My Lifetime Series 2, Len Goodman and Eve Pollard in Margate © BBC/RTRP

Production Company: Raise the Roof for BBC Scotland

Kent locations used: Margate, Herne Bay

Strictly star Len Goodman returns to BBC One for another series of Holiday of My Lifetime. Each episode of the nostalgic show features Len and a celebrity reliving their British childhood summer holidays.

The new series will include a variety of stars including actress Pam St Clement, model and presenter Mel Sykes, journalist Jennie Bond, actress and chef Lisa Faulkner, weather presenter Carol Kirkwood and comedian and actor Jasper Carrot.

Kent will feature throughout the new series where Len Goodman visits Margate with and writer Eve Pollard and Herne Bay with presenter Lucy Alexander.

The seaside town of Margate has a delightful sandy beach, arcades, shops in Old Town and modern architecture in the form of the Turner Contemporary gallery. The town has also seen the revival of Dreamland, thought to be the UK’s first original pleasure park. Margate has previously featured on screen in productions such as Edge of Heaven (2014) and Only Fools and Horses: The Jolly Boys’ Outing (1989).

Herne Bay has a shingle beach, bandstand and seafront gardens as well as many shops and eateries, amusement arcades, and a windmill. Previous productions which have filmed in Herne Bay include Boomers (2014) and Big Bad World (2013).

Don’t miss the Kent episodes of Holiday of My Lifetime: Margate will air on Wednesday 24^th February 2016 at 15:45 on BBC One and Herne Bay will air on Tuesday 1^st March 2016 at 15:45 on BBC One.

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

The Apprentice (2015)

Posted on October 19, 2015 by Kent Film Office

The Apprentice Contestant behind Karren Brady, Lord Sugar and Claude Littner

The Apprentice Contestant with Karren Brady, Lord Sugar, Claude Littner © BBC/Boundless/Jim Marks

Production company: Talkback

Kent Locations: Dover Castle, Margate, Ramsgate, Sandwich, Dover, Whitstable, Ashford

The Apprentice is a popular BBC One show where ambitious entrepreneurs compete to avoid hearing the famous line “You’re Fired” and win Lord Sugar’s £250,000 investment.

The 18 candidates will have to show their commercial insight and business sense throughout the 12 tough tasks which are closely watched by Lord Sugar’s advisors Baroness Karren Brady and, replacing Nick Hewer, Claude Littner.

In episode three of series 11, “Cross-Channel Discount Buying”, Lord Sugar summons the group to the wartime tunnels underneath Dover Castle where the two teams “Connexus” and “Versatile” are given their task – half of the team must stay in Kent and the other half must travel to France to find nine items and negotiate the best possible price. The team that spends the least amount of money will win.

During the task, the teams visit Kent towns including Margate, Ramsgate, Sandwich, Dover, Whitstable and Ashford.

With the mission over, the teams head back to the boardroom to find out who won and which candidates are in the firing line.

Margate and Ramsgate are coastal towns in the Thanet District of Kent offering gorgeous beaches, historic towns and a harbour. The area has previously featured in productions such as Eastenders (2015), Edge of Heaven (2013) and True Love (2012).

Situated on the River Stour is the medieval town of Sandwich which has some of the best-preserved half-timbered houses in the country, eateries and B&B’s. The area has been used for filming on projects including Steph and Dom Meet Nigel Farage (2014) and World War Z (2013).

Dover is home to the infamous White Cliffs of Dover, Dover Castle and the Port of Dover, Europe’s busiest passenger port. Productions which have previously filmed in the Dover area include Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Mr Selfridge Series 3 (2015) and Missing (2009).

Whitstable is a seaside town near Canterbury, famous for its annual Oyster Festival as well as the delightful harbour, shingle beach, busy high street and strong arts and culture scene. Terry and Mason’s Great Food Trip (2015) and Tipping the Velvet (2002) have previously chosen to film in Whitstable.

Ashford is a market town with many shops, eateries, and a designer outlet shopping centre with London and Europe are just a train ride away through Ashford International train station. Ashford and surrounding areas has been used as a film location from visiting productions including Gadget Man (2014), The Monuments Men (2014) and Emma (2009).

Don’t miss the Cross-Channel Discount Buying episode of The Apprentice featuring Kent which will be shown on Wednesday 21^st October 2015 at 21:00 on BBC One.

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

George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces (2015)

Posted on October 5, 2015 by Kent Film Office

Presenter George Clarke standing on a bridge with metal railings

George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces © Channel 4

Production Company: Plum Pictures

Kent Locations Used: Margate

Channel 4 series George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces looks into the fascinating world of small spaces and builds. In each episode George meets different people who turn tiny spaces into amazing places to work, play and even live.

Now in its fifth series, episode four visits Kent’s very own Margate where George meets a man planning to build Margate’s first Victorian bathing machine in more than 100 years.

George Clarke's Amazing Spaces- Victorian bathing machine in Margate being pulled by a tractor in front of an industrial unit

George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces – Victorian bathing machine in Margate © Thanet District Council

Also in the episode, George meets a coma survivor who proves he has a sense of humour by transforming a hearse into a family camper van and visits a woman who has turned her narrow boat home into a floating bookshop.

Margate is a seaside town with a pleasant mix between a charming Old Town and modern architecture such as the Turner Contemporary. The town has also recently reopened traditional theme park Dreamland. Margate has been used as a film location in a number of productions including Coast (2015), Edge of Heaven (2014) and True Love (2012).

Catch George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces featuring Margate on Thursday 8^th October 2015 at 20:00 on Channel 4.

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

Coast (2015)

Posted on July 3, 2015 by Kent Film Office

The Coast team on the sandy beach at Margate in front of a fold up table

The Coast team on the beach at Margate ©Thanet District Council

Production Company: BBC

Kent Location: Margate

Presenter Nick Crane and the team travel around the coast of the United Kingdom, uncovering fascinating stories, wildlife and history for popular BBC Two show, Coast.

Now in its tenth series, the Coast production team have once again chosen to visit Kent and filmed for two days in Margate, using a drone to get amazing aerial shots of the coastline.

The first episode of the tenth series sees Nick Crane follow a centuries-old tourist trail out of London to Southend on Sea then along Margate. During the visit to the Kent town, Nick discovers why the area saved lives and how it’s reinvented itself for the modern tourist by relying on some old traditions.

The coastal town of Margate boasts a sandy beach, popular gallery the Turner Contemporary, arcades, quirky shops, trendy cafes and the newly opened traditional amusement park, Dreamland. Margate has been chosen as a filming location for many productions including Free Speech (2014), ITV comedy Edge of Heaven (2014) and BBC One’s drama True Love (2012).

Don’t miss the Kent episode of Coast which will be shown on Thursday 9^th July 2015 on BBC Two at 21:00.

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

Free Speech (2014)

Posted on October 6, 2014 by Kent Film Office

Free Speech presenters Rick Edwards and Tina Daheley

Production company: Mentorn Media

Kent Location: Margate Winter Gardens

Free Speech is the BBC Three debate and discussion show where viewers get the chance to speak up about the biggest issues the country faces.

The next episode is an immigration special coming live from Margate Winter Gardens and is presented by Rick Edwards with Interactive Presenter Tina Daheley adding to the debate with the live social media feed.

Panellists including Suzanne Evans, deputy chairman of the UK Independence Party, journalist and author of The Establishment, Owen Jones and Lord Bilimoria, the founder of Cobra beer, will debate and answer audience questions around the pros and cons of immigration.

Now in its third series, the show has previously explored tough subjects such as addiction, young parenting, and unemployment.

Margate Winter Gardens is an event and theatre venue in the seaside town of Margate. The town itself boasts gallery the Turner Contemporary which is set on the sandy beach as well as a harbour, arcades, quirky shops and trendy cafes. Margate has previously been seen on screen in BBC’s Coast (2014), ITV comedy Edge of Heaven (2014) and BBC One’s drama True Love (2012).

Don’t miss Free Speech which will be coming live from Margate Winter Gardens on Tuesday 7^th October 2014 on BBC Three at 20:00.

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

Coast (2014)

Posted on August 19, 2014 by Kent Film Office

Richard Taylor-Jones on a sandy beach in Margate at dusk.

Production Company: BBC

Kent Locations: Margate

BBC Two series Coast sees presenters including Mark Horton, Neil Oliver and Nick Crane tour the British Isle where they uncover fascinating stories, wildlife and history behind our coastline.

The finale of the ninth series “Winter”, sets out to discover a secret season for Britain’s coast. Nick Crane explores the dramatic history of the Cornish coast, and its’ tolerance for storms, Neil Oliver experiences the Viking Fire Festival on Shetland and wildlife cameraman Richard Taylor-Jones visits Margate to see which creatures make the Kent town their home for winter.

The seaside town of Margate boasts a sandy beach, harbour, arcades, quirky shops, trendy cafes and gallery the Turner Contemporary. Margate has previously welcomed productions such as ITV comedy Edge of Heaven (2014) and BBC One’s drama True Love (2012).

Don’t miss the Margate feature of Coast which is shown on Tuesday 19^th August 2014 on BBC Two at 20:00.

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

Edge of Heaven (2014)

Posted on February 12, 2014 by Kent Film Office

Edge of Heaven cast standing in front of a hotel

Starring: Blake Harrison, Justine Michelle Cain, Camille Coduri, Nitin Kundra, Laura Checkley, Louisa Lytton, Marcia Warren, Adrian Scarborough, Robert Evans

Production company: Hartswood Films

Kent Locations: Margate, Broadstairs, Morelli’s and Morgan’s

BLAKE HARRISON (Alfie) standing by the seaside with the beach and town behind him

Edge of Heaven is a new six part ITV comedy drama series which displays life at Margate’s finest , and only, ‘80s themed B&B, run by the chaotic Taylor-Chatterjee family, Wham!-loving Judy and her black pudding enthusiast Husband Tandeep, and her grown up children, demobbed soldier Ann-Marie and Alfie, whose life is going badly ever since his fiancée Carly left him at the altar.

Edge of Heaven is a Hartswood Films production for ITV, and is produced by Elaine Cameron (Sherlock, Jekyll) and Paul McKenzie (Sadie J, Dani’s House). The series was written by Robert Evans (Stella), who also stars in the sitcom.

The comedy will feature Blake Harrison (The Inbetweeners), Justine Michelle Cain (Some Girls), Camille Coduri (Doctor Who), Nitin Kundra (Steel River Blues), Laura Checkley (Rosemary and Thyme), Louisa Lytton (EastEnders), Marcia Warren (Vicious) and Adrian Scarborough (Gavin and Stacey).

BLAKE HARRISON (Alfie) carrying JUSTINE CAIN (Carly) across the sandy beach

The production visited Margate and Broadstairs between September and October 2013 to film on location and shoot exterior scenes including the B&B which is in Albert Terrace. The interiors of the B&B were filmed at Longcross Studios.

Margate is the quintessential British seaside town, with a sandy beach, harbour, arcades, and historic architecture. The town has lots to offer, including Turner Contemporary, quirky shops, independent galleries and trendy cafes. Margate is a popular filming location, having previously welcomed productions like True Love (2012) and The Apprentice (2009).

Broadstairs is in East Kent offers a sandy beach, Viking Bay lined with traditional beach huts, a band stand and large Victorian terraces as well as a busy high street and many food and drink establishments. The area has previously been used as a film locations by Eastenders (2015) and The Fixer (2008).

Don’t miss the series, which starts on 21 February 2014 at 21:00 on ITV1.

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

The Tunnel (2013)

Posted on October 3, 2013 by Kent Film Office

Clemence Poesy (Elise Wassermann) and Stephen Dillane (Karl Roebuck) standing in the centre of a tunnel

Starring: Stephan Dillane, Clemence Poesy, Keeley Hawes, Liz Smith, David G. Robinson, Angel Coulby, Tobi Bakere, Mathieu Carriere

Production Company: Kudos Film and Television, Shine France

Kent Locations: Channel Tunnel, Folkestone Harbour, Discovery Park, Connaught Barracks, Folkestone, Dover, Margate, The Port of Dover, The Turner Contemporary and many more.

Inspired by hit Scandinavian drama The Bridge, The Tunnel is a new 10 part Sky Atlantic series set against the backdrop of a European crisis after a French politician is found dead on the border between the UK and France. Detectives from the respective countries are sent to investigate but at the crime scene comes a shocking discovery, forcing the French and British police into an uneasy partnership. As the serial killer uses ever more elaborate and ingenious methods to highlight the moral bankruptcy of modern society, the detectives are drawn deeper into his increasingly personal agenda.

The series is a Sky Atlantic HD and CANAL+ co-production from Kudos Film and TV and Shine France Films in association with Filmlance and was adapted by an Anglo-French writing team led by Ben Richards (Spooks, Outcasts, Party Animals).

The series stars many famous faces including Stephen Dillane (Game of Thrones), Clémence Poésy (Harry Potter series), Joseph Mawle (Game of Thrones), Tom Bateman (Da Vinci’s Demons), Keeley Hawes (Ashes to Ashes), Liz Smith (The Royal Family), Tobi Bakare (Silent Witness), Jeanne Balibar (The Invisible Woman), Thibault de Montalembert (Days of Glory), Mathieu Carrièrre (High Speed), Angel Coulby (Merlin) and Jack Lowden (Mrs Biggs).

In November 2012, Kent welcomed The Tunnel’s production team who based themselves at Discovery Park in Sandwich. Filming took place at a variety of East Kent locations between February 2013 and August 2013.

Many prominent Kent locations were used such as the Channel Tunnel, Connaught Barracks, Discovery Park, Folkestone Harbour, The Turner Contemporary, The Port of Dover, Westwood Cross Shopping Centre as well as the towns of Folkestone, Dover and Margate, and the production also made use of the Kent Film Office’s legal powers to close roads for filming.

East Kent has previously provided the back drop for many filming projects such as Dominic Savage’s True Love (2012), Ginger and Rosa (2012), My Week with Marilyn (2011), Son of Rambow (2008) and Venus (2007).

Don’t miss the start of The Tunnel which will be start on Wednesday 16^th October 2013 on Sky Atlantic at 21:00.

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

Kent's Premier Film Commission