Matt Lucas

The Harry Hill Movie (2013)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
The Harry Hill Movie still- Harry Hill riding a mobility scooter being chased down the road by a lady in a mobility scooter

The Harry Hill Movie

Director: Steve Bendelack
Writers: Jon Foster, James Lamont, Harry Hill
Starring: Harry Hill, Matthew Hall, Julie Walters, Simon Bird, Matt Lucas, Jim Broadbent, Sheridan Smith, Julian Barratt
Production Company: Lucky Features, Jonescompany Productions
Kent Locations Used: Littlestone-on-Sea

Under the mistaken impression that his pet hamster, Abu, is ill, Harry Hill and his Nan (Julie Walters) take him to the vet, who wrongly gives them the tragic news that Abu has one week to live. Harry, who thinks he speaks fluent hamster (but, in fact, misunderstands every squeak that comes out of his little pal’s mouth), incorrectly thinks Abu’s dying wish is a trip to Blackpool. With Nan making three, the trio embark on a road trip to the seaside town. Unbeknownst to them, the Vet is actually the dirty rotten henchman of Harry’s evil twin brother Otto (Matt Lucas), who was raised separately by Alsatians. Addicted to Hula-Hoops and fuelled by revenge, Otto’s nefarious plot is to kidnap Abu and make him the centrepiece of the plastinated hamster world he’s creating in his evil lair. Can Harry and Nan stop Otto before it’s too late?

The film is Comedian Harry Hill’s big screen debut and stars a wealth of British acting and comedy talent including Harry Hill (TV Burp, Harry Hill), Julie Walters (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One (2010), Canterbury Tales (2003)), Jim Broadbent (Vanity Fair (2005), King Lear (2018)), Simon Bird (The Inbetweeners (2010), Friday Night Dinner), Guillaume Delaunay (Victor Frankenstein, Tale of Tales), Matt Lucas (Little Britain (2003), Bridesmaids), Marc Wootton (Nativity!, Arthur Christmas), Sheridan Smith (Morgana Robinson’s Summer (2017), Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps) and Julian Barratt (The Mighty Boosh, The Great (2020)).

Directed by Steve Bendelack (The League of the Gentlemen, Mr Bean’s Holiday) and written by Jon Foster and James Lamont of Armstrong and Miller as well as Harry Hill himself, this film is sure to promise high jinks, and crazy characters.

In May 2013, the production visited Littlestone-on-Sea where they filmed various scenes of Harry and his Nan arriving in an old car and staying at a B&B in the fictional village of “Black Pole”.

Littlestone lies on the coast between Greatstone and St Marys Bay, and is a village with a sea wall, promenade, beach huts, lifeboat station and beach consisting of shingle, mudflats and sand. Nearby Dungeness is a popular filming location having been used for The Poison Tree (2012).

The Harry Hill Movie was released in cinemas on December 20th 2013 and is now available to buy on DVD.

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

Little Britain – Season 1 (2003)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Little Britain Characters stood on top of a cartoon map of the UK that is coloured like the United Kingdom flag. Little Britain is written to the left.

Little Britain Poster © BBC

Writers: David Walliams, Matt Lucas

Starring: Matt Lucas, David Walliams, Tom Baker, Paul Putner, Anthony Head, Charu Bala Chokshi

Production Company: BBC, Little Britain Productions

Kent Locations Used: Herne Bay

Little Britain is a character-comedy sketch show from creators David Walliams and Matt Lucas, both of whom also star in the show. Exploring a variety of unusual and amusing characters residing across the British Isles, the first season of Little Britain was partly filmed in Herne Bay.

Heading the show as numerous characters are David Walliams (Big School, Come Fly With Me) and Matt Lucas (Bridesmaids, Come Fly With Me), also featuring other famous faces like Tom Baker (Doctor Who, Monarch of the Glen) as the narrator, Paul Putner (Kidulthood, The Peter Serafinowicz Show), Anthony Head (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Merlin) and Charu Bala Chokshi (Gandhi, A Fish Called Wanda) as supporting characters.

Herne Bay promenade and clock tower. Beach and sea can be seen to the right

Little Britain screenshot at Herne Bay

A number of different locations in Herne Bay appear in Season 1 of Little Britain as the home of cross dresser Emily Howard. The interior and exterior of the Bun Penny, the once well-known pub on Herne Bay’s seafront, features in episode one, while the clock tower appears in both episode three and episode eight. Other locations used include Central Parade and Central Avenue. Some of the Lou and Andy sketches are also filmed at Herne Bay.

Herne Bay is a traditional seaside town located on the Kent coast, with interesting Victorian architecture and a splendid seafront boasting glorious beaches. The town is a popular location, with previous productions such as Boomers (2014) and Big Bad World (2013)  choosing to film there.

Little Britain ran for three more seasons and is available to buy on DVD.

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