Director: Harry Bradbeer
Writer: Jack Thorne, Nancy Springer
Starring: Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Helena Bonham Carter, Louis Partridge
Production Companies: Legendary Entertainment, Netflix, PCMA Productions
Kent Locations Used: The Historic Dockyard Chatham
Based on the mystery novels by Nancy Springer, young detective Enola Holmes makes her return in Enola Holmes 2 (2022), where she takes the lead in her first missing person case. Once again, she will need to team up with her friends and older brother, Sherlock, to try to unravel the mysteries of the seedy London underworld.
From September to November 2021, production was based at The Historic Dockyard in Chatham, where they filmed a variety of scenes in the Ropery complex of buildings.
The Historic Dockyard Chatham is one of Kent’s most popular filming locations. Set on the River Medway, the Dockyard spans over 80 acres, containing over 100 buildings dating from the Georgian and Victorian periods. Other recent productions to have filmed at the Dockyard include Series 1 of Bridgerton (2020), Summerland (2020) and Operation Mincemeat (2022).
Enola Holmes 2 was released on Netflix on Friday 4th November 2022.
Directors: Ian Emes, Theresa Varga, Jamie Magnus Stone Starring: Julie Graham, Siobhan Redmond, Sarah Woodward and Olivia Vinall (Series 1), Florence Hall (Series 2) Production Company: Sly Fox Productions Limited Kent Locations Used: Farningham, Cranbrook, Smarden, Lympne Castle, Woodchurch Windmill
Production visited several locations in Farningham for the hero village of Wildemarsh. Beth’s cottage, which features throughout Series 1 and 2, was filmed on the Mill Estate. In Series 2, the exterior of the doctor’s surgery as well as of Victoria Durrell’s (Selina Griffiths) and Henry Wade’s (Aki Omoshaybi) houses and Rachel’s Papers shop were also filmed on the Mill Estate. Wadard Books on the High Street doubles as the Murder Ink bookshop and Jane’s house. Farningham Village Store also features as Wildemarsh Village store and the entrance to The Corn Exchange Theatre in Series 1. Farningham has previously been used as a filming location for Flesh and Blood (2020).
In the Death By Vinyl episode in Series 1, Stoneydale craft shop in Cranbrook was converted into the The Sound and Fury record shop in Wildemarsh. Cranbrook also features as the High Street throughout both series. In the Series 2 episode Sparring with Death, Part 1, St Dunstan’s Church and graveyard in Cranbrook feature when Matilda and Beth visit the grave of Beth’s husband.
St Michael’s Churchyard in Smarden was used as the Wildemarsh churchyard, and a private residence in Water Lane featured as the village’s Embittered Hack Pub in Series 1. Productions that previously filmed in Smarden include The Mirror Crack’d (1980).
Woodchurch Windmill in Ashford features as the exterior of Wildemarsh Windmill throughout both series. The view from the mill to the village below also features throughout.
Series 1 launched on 29th April 2020 on Acorn TV and can be found here.
Series 2 of Queens of Mystery was released on AcornTV on Monday 29th November 2021.
Writers: Dennis Kelly, Dean O’Loughlin, Kit de Waal Director: Philippa Lowthorpe, Marc Munden Starring: Jude Law, Naomie Harris, Mark Lewis Jones, Amer Chadha-Patel, Katherine Waterston Production Company: Plan B Entertainment, Punchdrunk International, SKY Studios Kent Locations Used: Fog Signal Station, Allens Farm, Chiddingstone, Bedgebury National Pinetum Forest, Hever Castle, Shellness Beach and Huts, Quex Park, St Clere Estate, Grain Coastal Park and and other private Kent locations.
Jude Law (Captain Marvel, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald) leads the cast in mysterious six-part limited series The Third Day (2020) due to air in the UK on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV. Blurring the lines between fantasy and reality, the adventure tale finds Law’s character Sam traveling to a strange island off the British coast where he encounters its inhabitants, eventually clashing with them as his sanity is threatened.
Production visited many locations in Kent for filming, including Fog Signal Station at Dungeness, Allens Farm, St Clere Estate, Bedgebury National Pinetum Forest, Hever Castle, Quex Park, Grain, Chiddingstone and Shellness Beach.
Hever Castle is an outstanding 13th century Tudor castle and moat. The grounds include stunning Italianate gardens, a large lake, as well as a mock Tudor Village. It was the original home of the Boleyn family. Inkheart (2008) and The Other Boleyn Girl (2008) have previously filmed there.
Set in 2800 acres of the rolling Kent countryside, St Clere estate offers stunning views of the North Downs, formal gardens, paddocks, a meadow, ploughed fields, a kitchen garden, orangery, green houses, workshops and stunning features such as a hawthorn archway, lime avenue and a temple by the lake. Gangs of London (2020) and The Great (2020) have recently filmed here.
Shellness Beach has an area of mixed sand and shingle beach adjoining Shellness on the Isle of Sheppey. The beach is bordered by private chalets, some of which are available for filming. Both Dark Heart Series 1 (2018) and Kiss Me First (2018) have previously filmed here.
Situated in Dungeness on the Kent coast, The Fog Signal Station has been re-furbished to an incredible standard from old government buildings into contemporary dwellings. The interior leads outside via large glass doors on to decking and shingle. Vistas from the site include two light houses and a look-out tower. Una (2017) and All Or Nothing (2002) have previously filmed at Dungeness.
Quex Park is a regency-style country estate with a unique museum containing dioramas of African landscapes and gardens. The science fiction show Blakes 7 – Bounty (1978) was filmed here.
Grain Coastal Park on the Isle of Grain gives visitors a chance to walk along two miles of shoreline and pass by ancient Forts. There are also leafy avenues with tunnels of trees that host a variety of wildflowers. Peterloo (2018) and London Spy (2015) have both previously made use of the various locations available on the Isle of Grain.
The Third Day will be available to stream on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV from Tuesday 15th September 2020.
Looking to resolve her past, Una (Rooney Mara) confronts Ray (Ben Mendelsohn ), her former neighbour, at his work place, seeking answers. As buried secrets and forbidden desires start to surface, they begin to threaten the stability they have found in their new lives.
Una (C) WestEnd Films
The film is based on the play “Blackbird” that was written by David Harrower. Benedict Andrews (National Theatre Live: A Streetcar Named Desire) directed and Rooney Mara (A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Social Network) takes the lead role alongside Riz Ahmed (Jason Bourne, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story), Ben Mendelsohn (The Dark Knight Rises,Bloodline) Tobias Menzies (Casino Royale, Atonement),Indira Varma (Game of Thrones, Hunted) and Tara Fitzgerald (Legend, Brassed Off).
The production chose to film in Kent in June 2015, using Dungeness, Greatstone and Lydd which feature as a remote hideaway location.
The Dungeness, Greatstone and Lydd coastal area boasts a unique and large expanse of sandy beach backed by dunes and the largest shingle desert in Europe. Ginger and Rosa (2012), The Poison Tree (2012) and Parade’s End (2012) have previously used the area for filming.
Una is released in cinemas from Friday 1st September 2017.
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 andMargate.
Martin Clunes (Doc Martin, Men Behaving Badly) stars as the celebrated novelist and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in ITV’s three part adaptation of Julian Barnes’ acclaimed novel, Arthur & George.
Written by Ed Whitmore, the drama is based on true events in Conan Doyle’s life who famously wrote the Sherlock Holmes detective novels.
Set in 1906 in Staffordshire, Hampshire and London, the drama follows Sir Arthur and his trusted secretary, Alfred ‘Woodie’ Wood (Charles Edwards) as they investigate the strange case of George Edalji (Arsher Ali), a young Anglo-Indian solicitor, imprisoned for allegedly mutilating animals and writing obscene letters.
Arthur & George explores what we think we know about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s life and is a truly fascinating insight into one of the most famous and well known British writers today.
The cast and crew filmed for one day at The Historic Dockyard Chatham where they recreated several day and night street scenes.
ITV’s The Suspicions of Mr Whicher returns with two new TV films inspired by the real life career of the celebrated 19th century detective.
Paddy Considine (The Bourne Ultimatum, The World’s End) returns as Jack Whicher with the new films written by playwright Helen Edmundson.The original The Suspicions of Mr Whicher film was shown in 2011 and based on the best-selling book by Kate Summerscale.
The first film “Beyond the Pale” is directed by David Blair (Accused, Bert & Dickie) and sees Jack Whicher has moved on from his role as Inspector at the Metropolitan Police to become a private inquiry agent. After being hired by a former Home Secretary to help investigate threats made against his son, Jack unearths the darkest secrets and finds himself in a maelstrom of betrayal and passion.
The second film “Ties That Bind” is directed by Geoffrey Sax (Endeavour, Tipping the Velvet) and is about Whicher reluctantly taking on a divorce case after the law has just passed and what seems a fairly straight-forward investigation turns out to be disturbing after one of the key witnesses fails to attend court and is found dead.
The Historic Dockyard Chathamwas chosen as a film location where the production made use of a variety of spaces including exteriors at the street and gardens as well as HMS Gannet and interior spaces such as the Tarred Yarn Store.
The Historic Dockyard Chatham is a popular film location due to the variety of cobbled streets, industrial buildings and extraordinary Georgian and Victorian architecture. Feature films Muppets Most Wanted(2014) and Les Miserables (2012) as well as TV dramas Mr Selfridge(2012-2014) and Downton Abbey (2013) have also chosen to film at this diverse Kent location.
The Suspicions of Mr Whicher: Beyond The Pale will be shown on Sunday 7th September 2014 at 21:05 on ITV1 and The Suspicions of Mr Whicher: Ties That Bind which will be shown on Sunday 14th September 2014 at 21:00 on ITV1.
Director: Jones Starring: Nora Tschirner, Rob Knighton Production Companies: Bobo Kaminski, Everyone’s Going To Die, Jones Film Kent Location Used: Various streets in Folkestone, Rotunda and Sunny Sands beaches, St. Mary’s and St. Eanswythe Church, St. Peter’s Primary School, Georges House Gallery in the Old High Street, The Quarterhouse, The Leas, Folkestone Harbour, Dymchurch Amusements, The Grand, The Warren Country Park
Everyone’s Going To Die is a film set in a fictional English seaside town and centres around Melanie (Nora Tschirner), whose life is going nowhere. When a mysterious man, Ray (Rob Knighton), comes into town, she sees an opportunity to save herself. Attempting to leave their pasts behind and move on, the pair endeavours to change their lives for the better.
The production shot on location in and around Folkestone including various streets, Rotunda and Sunny Sands beaches, St.Mary’s and St. Eanswythe Church, St. Peter’s Primary School, Georges House Gallery in the Old High Street, The Quarterhouse, The Leas, as well as various shops and cafes.
Everyone’s Going to Die Screenshot at Folkestone Harbour Arm
Everyone’s Going to Die Screenshot at the old railway at Folkestone Harbour
Everyone’s Going to Die Screenshot – Melanie (Nora Tschirner) and Ray (Rob Knighton) at the beach
Additional locations include Folkestone Harbour where the old railway station and Harbour Arm feature as one of the locations where Melanie and Ray meet up. The Grand was the hotel that Ray stays at, Dymchurch Amusements was used for the scenes where Melanie bumps into Ray and the beach at The Warren Country Park was used for some of the beach scenes where Melanie and Ray join Laura (Madeline Duggan) and her friends.
Folkestone is a town in the district of Shepway and boasts a beach, Harbour, quaint streets, many studios and galleries at the Creative Quarter and The Leas, whose mile-long cliff-top promenade offers sea views to France. Folkestone has been used as a location for filming by productions such as The Tunnel (2013) and Is Anybody There? (2009).
Everyone’s Going To Die was released at film festivals in 2013 and is now available to buy on DVD.
Starring: Pauline Quirke, Felix Scott, Pooja Shah, Mark Wingett, Adjoa Andoh, Brooke Kinsella, Gary Lucy, Roy Hudd
Production company: Leopard Films
Kent Filming Locations: Dover – Port, White Cliffs, and St Margaret’s Bay, Tonbridge
Following the success of the first series, Pauline Quirke returns in her role as MJ – Head of the police’s Missing Persons Unit for a further 10 episodes of the critically acclaimed programme.
It is a year on from the first series and MJ is still struggling to live with her sister, who was found in the first series but that’s the least of her troubles as soon her estranged father shows up. Has he really changed or is there more family trouble on the horizon? Things are not easy at the office either, as Amy and Jason’s affair comes to an end when one of them sets their sights on promotion.
Returning for the second series is 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). There are also guest appearances from Brooke Kinsella (Eastenders, Kid in the Corner), Gary Lucy (The Bill,Hollyoaks) and Roy Hudd (Coronation Street, Purely Belter).
Missing was filmed on location in Dover including the Port, White Cliffs, and St Margaret’s Bay. They also visited Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells.
Tonbridge is a West Kent market town with a rich cultural heritage and spectacular scenery. The area is surrounded beautiful countryside and boasts castles, stately homes, gardens, farms, as well as sports and leisure facilities. The Tonbridge area has been used by previous productions including Queens of Mystery (2019).
The new series starts on BBC1 from Monday 15th March at 2.15pm.
Based on the play by Tim Whitnall and starring Alex MacQueen and Philip Campbell, The Hide tells the story of a reclusive bird watcher who spends his time on desolate marshes. His peace is disrupted by the arrival of a stranger whose dishevelled appearance initially causes him some alarm. Surprisingly, the pair strike up a friendship, discovering that they have more in common than they first thought. However a shocking police announcement on the radio throws the two friends into a deadly fight for survival in this tense thriller.
The Hide was erected on the marshy shores just below theHarty Ferry Inn. Other footage was shot a little further along at the Elmley Marshes on the Isle of Sheppey. Exposed to the elements, the bleak and atmospheric coastal marshland was the perfect backdrop for this tense thriller.
Elmley Marshesis a little bit of wilderness located on the shores of the River Swale and is home to many unusual species such as the Avocet and the Marsh Harrier making it an ideal spot for twitching and indeed a film about a bird twitcher! The marshes have previously been used by productions such as Jekyll and Hyde (2015), Great British Railway Journeys (2014) and A Taste of Britain (2014).
The film was well received on the film festival circuit, making the official selection at the Dinard Film Festival and has recently been acquired by Film4.
The Hide was released in cinemas in 2008 and is now available on DVD.