The Inspector Lynley Mysteries – Natural Causes (2006)

Thomas Lynley and Detective Sergeant Barbara Haves standing next to each other facing the camera

The Inspector Lynley Mysteries © BBC

Starring: Sharon Small, Nathaniel Parker, Mary Stockley, Ben Lannoy, Liza Tarbuck, Nicholas Gleaves, Adrian Rawlins. 

Production Company:  BBC, WGBH 

Kent Location: Dungeness

The Inspector Lynley Mysteries is a BBC One drama series about Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley of Scotland Yard and Detective Sergeant Barbara Haves who work together to solve unusual murder cases. 

In ‘Natural Causes’, Detective Barbara Havers has been left without a partner after Detective Lynley’s  suspension for threatening a suspect and is called in to solve the murder  of a young woman, whose  body was found after her car was shunted into a lake. Detective Lynley can’t help getting involved in the investigation, but will his participation help or hinder the case?

The series stars Sharon Small (About a Boy, Dear Frankie), Nathaniel Parker (Far From the Madding Crowd, Haunted Mansion), Mary Stockley (V for Vendetta, The Woman in Black), Ben Lannoy (Judge John Deed), Liza Tarbuck (Mount Pleasant Bonkers), Nicholas Gleaves  (Scott & Bailey, Waterloo Road) and Adrian Rawlins (Dickensian, Harry Potter series).  

Dungeness was used in Natural Causes as the area where the victim lived and Detective Barbara Havers (Sharon Small) and Detective Inspector Fiona Knight (Liza Tarbuck) interviewed the victim’s family and questioned suspects. The end of the episode culminates in a dramatic scene at the top of the Old Lighthouse in Dungeness.

Dungeness is a vast, natural space on the Kent coast and has a shingle beach, two lighthouses and power station. Dungeness is a popular film location having been used for ITV drama The Poison Tree (2012) and BBC drama series Parades End (2012) as well as various photo shoots.

The Inspector Lynley Mysteries Natural Causes was shown on BBC One in July 2006 and is now available to buy on DVD.

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


Inspector Morse – Deceived by Flight (1989)

Inspector Morse with his hands in his pockets looking at the camera with the port of dover queue behind him.

Inspector Morse (John Thaw) © ITV

Starring: John Thaw, Kevin Whatley, Nathaniel Parker, Peter Amory, Norman Rodway

Directed by: Anthony Simmons

Production Company: Zenith Productions, Central Independent Television

Kent locations used: Port of Dover, Dover Priory Station

Deceived by Flight is episode 3, from series 3, of the well-known Inspector Morse series based on the novels by Colin Dexter where Morse is investigating the murder of a member of the old boys’ cricket team, who have reconvened before starting their European tour. However, after a second murder, it soon becomes clear that some members of the cricket club have another agenda when it comes to the tour. Detective Sergeant Lewis agrees to go undercover as a member of the team in an attempt to reveal the murderer.

As well as regulars in the franchise; John Thaw (The Sweeny, Chaplin), and Kevin Whatley (Auf Wiedersehen Pet 1983) this episode also features Amanda Hillwood (Die Hard 2),  Sharon Maughan (Holby City, Shes out of my league),  Norman Rodway (Mother Night) and Nathaniel Parker (The Bodyguard, Haunted Mansion).

Dover Priory Station and the Port of Dover both feature towards the end of the episode when the cricket team arrive in Dover, with the intention to catch a Ferry, to begin their European tour.

The Port of Dover in Kent is the UKs busiest passenger Port and the coastline is well known for its white cliffs. Dover’s Port has previously featured in Johnny English (2003), Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows (2011) and more recently in Sky Atlantics drama, The Tunnel (2013).

Deceived by Flight first aired on the 18th January 1989 and is now available to buy on DVD.

 

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