London Spy (2015)

Danny (BEN WHISHAW), Alex (EDWARD HOLCROFT) standing in a tunnel

London Spy – Danny (BEN WHISHAW), Alex (EDWARD HOLCROFT) © BBC/WTTV Limited

Creator: Tom Rob Smith

Director: Jakob Verbruggen

Starring: Ben Whishaw, Jim Broadbent, Edward Holcroft, Charlotte Rampling

Production companies: Working Title Television, BBC America, NBC Universal, BBC

Kent Locations: Isle of Grain, Medway and Dartford Crossing – QEII Bridge

London Spy is a gripping BBC Two five-part miniseries about a young man Danny (Ben Whishaw) who finds himself drawn into a dangerous world of espionage when his spy partner is found dead under suspicious circumstances. Danny must decide whether he’s prepared to fight for the truth, even though he is ill-equipped to take on what lies ahead of him.

The spy thriller series was created by best-selling author Tom Rob Smith (Child 44) and directed by Jakob Verbruggen (The Fall, The Bridge, Code 37).

London Spy has an outstanding cast including Ben Whishaw (Skyfall, Cloud Atlas, I’m Not There), Jim Broadbent (The Iron Lady, Harry Potter, Moulin Rouge!), Edward Holcroft (Kingsman: The Secret Service, Lady Chatterley’s Lover, Wolf Hall) and Charlotte Rampling (Broadchurch, The Duchess, Never Let Me Go).

The production filmed on the Isle of Grain in Medway for two days in October 2014 which is seen in episode one where the countryside and coast feature where Alex (Edward Holcroft) and Danny get to know each other.

In episode two, the Dartford Crossing QEII Bridge can be seen in the background of Danny’s workplace.

The Isle of Grain is on the Hoo Peninsula in Medway and has marshland and the fort, Grain Battery Tower. The Medway area has featured on screen in productions including Mr Selfridge (2012-2015), Black Sea (2014) and The Mystery of Edwin Drood (2012)

Don’t miss London Spy which starts on Monday 9th November 2015 on BBC Two at 21:00.

 

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


Downton Abbey (2010 & 2013)

Joanne Froggatt as Anna Bates, Baby George and Di Botcher as Nanny West

Joanne Froggatt as Anna Bates, Baby George and Di Botcher as Nanny West © ITV

Creator: Julian Fellowes
Starring: Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Brendan Coyle, Elizabeth McGovern
Production Company:
ITV Studios, Carnival Films, Masterpiece, NBC Universal, WGBH Boston
Kent Locations Used:
Kent & East Sussex Railway, The Historic Dockyard Chatham

Downton Abbey (2010-2015) was an ITV period drama charting the lives of the Crawley family and their servants in early 20th Century Britain.

Created by Julian Fellowes (Belgravia (2020), Vanity Fair (2005)), the series hosts a star of acting talent including Maggie Smith (The Lady in the Van (2015), A Room With a View (1986)) as Violet Crawley, Hugh Bonneville (The Gold (2023), The Monuments Men (2014)) as Robert Crawley, Michelle Dockery (The Gentlemen, Good Behaviour) as Lady Mary Crawley, Brendan Coyle (Me Before You, Lark Rise to Candleford) as John Bates and Elizabeth McGovern (Ordinary People, Once Upon a Time in America) as Cora Crawley.

The opening shot of Series 1 Episode 1 is a steam train going through the countryside and was filmed at Kent & East Sussex Railway.

In February 2013, the Downton Abbey team visited The Historic Dockyard Chatham where they used the Tarred Yarn Store to double as the workhouse where Mr Grigg (Nicky Henson) works in Series 4 Episode 1. Later, in Episode 2, the Ropery streets were used for the scenes where Lady Rose MacClare (Lily James) is at the market with James Kent (Ed Speleers) watching her.

Downton Abbey Screenshot - train going through the countryside

Downton Abbey Screenshot © ITV Studios, Carnival Films, Masterpiece, NBC Universal, WGBH Boston

Kent & East Sussex Railway is a ten-and-a-half-mile rural light railway from Tenterden to East Sussex. Kent & East Sussex Railway has previously featured in film and TV productions including Richard E. Grant on Ealing Comedies (2016), Mapp and Lucia (2014) and Last Passenger (2013).

The Historic Dockyard Chatham is a popular film location due to its varied and interesting areas such as the cobbled streets, church and over 100 buildings dating from the Georgian and Victorian periods. Previous productions that have shot here include Les Misérables (2013), Call the Midwife (2012-2024), and The Golden Compass (2007).

Series 1 of Downton Abbey originally aired on ITV from Sunday 26th September.

Series 4 of Downton Abbey aired on ITV from Sunday 22nd September 2013 and is now available to stream on Amazon Prime.

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