Creator: Peter Morgan Starring: Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, Imelda Staunton, Jonathan Pryce, Lesley Manville, Elizabeth Debicki, Dominic West Production Company: Left Bank Pictures, Sony Pictures Television Kent Locations Used: The Historic Dockyard Chatham, Brompton Barracks, Cobham Hall, Lydd, Discovery Park, Rochester
The Crown (2016-2023) is a Netflix Original historical drama series focusing on the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Based on real events, the series is a fictional dramatization of the political and personal events that shaped her reign.
In Series 4, production visited Brompton Barracks in Chatham, where they used the Parade Square and The Mall for scenes re-enacting Trooping the Colour at the Horse Guards Parade. Brompton Barracks is ideally suited as a location to double for iconic London landmarks with a large parade ground, vaulted cellars under the Officer’s Mess, statues, stone bridges, a museum, and a large ornate arch.
For Series 5, production revisited The Historic Dockyard Chatham where they filmed the Queen boarding a ship at Anchor Wharf. Filming also took place in the village of Lydd, at Hardy Hall and The Green, which was used to recreate Tony Blair, played by Bertie Carvel (Dalgliesh, Doctor Foster), and his family casting their votes in the 1997 General Election – a scene which sadly did not make the final cut. Production also visited Cobham Hall, which doubled as Eton College.
Production returned to Kent for Series 6, with filming taking place at Cobham Hall, which once again doubles for Eton College. A jogging scene was also filmed in a nearby private woodland and Discovery Park features as the Al-Fayed offices in Series 6 part 1.
Cobham Hall is a private school in a historic house which is located in 150 acres of Grade II listed parkland. Its features include a stunning ballroom, library, cobbled courtyards, formal gardens, water towers, modern classrooms and sport facilities, including a swimming pool. Previous productions to have filmed at Cobham Hall include Hetty Feather (2015-2020), High End Yaariyaan (2019) and Tulip Fever (2018).
The first series of The Crown (2016-2023) was released on Netflix on Friday 4th November 2016. All seasons are currently available to view on Netflix.
Series 6 of The Crown (2016-2023) will be released on Netflix in two parts. Part 1 will be released on Thursday 16th November 2023, with Part 2 following on Thursday 14th December 2023.
Creator: Julie Wassmer Starring: Kerry Godliman, Howard Charles, Sophia Del Pizzo, Frances Barber Production Company: Buccaneer Media Kent Locations Used: Whitstable, Canterbury, Faversham, Herne Bay, Margate, Ramsgate, Detling, Dover, Sevenoaks, Rochester
Based on the much loved series of novels ‘The Whitstable Pearl Mysteries’ by Kent resident Julie Wassmer (EastEnders, London’s Burning), Whitstable Pearl (2021-2022) is a detective series for Acorn TV. The story follows big-hearted local restaurant owner Pearl Nolan (Kerry Godliman) who sets up a local detective agency after undergoing police training in an earlier career. She is soon embroiled in her first case when she discovers the body of close friend, Vinnie. Pearl forms an unlikely partnership with DCI Mike McGuire (Howard Charles) and finds herself pulled into the dark underbelly of the picturesque town she calls home.
For both Series 1 and 2, most of the filming took place in and around Whitstable itself, including scenes filmed by the coast at Whitstable Harbour, Whitstable Beach, Whitstable Yacht Club and Tankerton Beach. In Series 1, Whitstable High Street features and local shops were filmed including Iain’s Plaice (fish and chip restaurant) and art gallery Chappell Contemporary as Houlihan’s Hardware store. Other Whitstable businesses filmed for Series 1 include the Cemetery, Football Ground, MFA Bowl and Seaview Holiday Park, which features as the trailer park where Vinnie lives. Several private residences were used for filming, including Beacon House as Pearl’s House for Series 1, the exterior of The Ness as Mike’s Flat in Series 2 Episode 2, The Warehouse Cottages for the same episode, and various private residences on Island Wall for Series 2 Eps 1 and 2. Filming took place at The Old Neptune pub, which doubled as the Pearson’s Arms for both series. Whitstable train station also features briefly in Series 2 Ep 2 as Pearl trails a suspected cheating spouse.
The Kent Events Centre was used as a studio build location in Series 1 for interiors of Pearl’s seafood restaurant.
Meanwhile, Margate in Thanet features in both series with Margate Beach and The Walpole Hotel doubling for Whitstable seaside scenes in Series 1, Dreamland and the Nayland Rock Hotel featuring in Series 2 as a theme park and The Bradford Hotel. For Series 1, production also filmed at St Peter’s Roman Catholic Church on Canterbury Road in nearby Westgate-on-Sea. The Port of Ramsgate and Royal Harbour Marina double for the Port of Dover cruise terminal and Dover Marina in Series 1.
Dover features multiple times in Series 2, with locations such as The White Cliffs, Port of Dover, Lydden Spout Battery and Western Heights making an appearance in Episode 1, along with various nearby roads. The Citadel also appears in both series, doubling as a police station. The Citadel also features in Series 1 as a children’s home, and in Series 2 Episode 1 the location’s tunnels feature as the setting for the dramatic confrontation between Kruz Tomlin (Yaw Nimako-Asamoah) and his stepfather Leo (Oliver Walker).
For Series 2, production also visited various locations in Sevenoaks, including a private house which doubled as Dolly’s House, Stonepitts PYO Farm and the St Clere Estate which doubles as Zelda St John’s (Stephanie Beacham) mansion.
Rochester High Street in Medway appears in Series 2, with local businesses Baggin’s Book Bazaar, Kiss the Bride and a former Estate Agents featuring in Episodes 2 and 3.
Interior scenes for Series 1 were filmed at the former St Martin’s Hospital in Canterbury doubling as a police station and a hospital. Other filming locations for Series 1 include a field near Faversham at Belmont Park and private residence in Herne Bay.
Beacon House is a colonial clapboard wooden turn of the century Beach House. Set above beach on a private sea road, the grounds include wild woodland gardens and views out to sea and lines of beach huts. Catastrophe Series 4 (2019) filmed at this location.
The Kent Events Centre based in Detling is the largest, most flexible conference and exhibition venue in Kent, offering 7,000 sqm of indoor space available to film productions as studio space and 200 acres of outdoor space.
Margate is a traditional seaside town complete with sandy beach, harbour, amusement park, period housing and ultra-modern art gallery Turner Contemporary. The Walpole Hotel was built for discerning guests in 1914 and extended in 1927. Built over 5 floors it has 42 Bedrooms, 2 flats and a newly added small museum space. Dreamland is considered to be the oldest-surviving amusement park in Great Britain, and has played host to a variety of productions, including Killing Eve (2018-2022), Two Weeks to Live (2020) and Jellyfish (2018). Located nearby, The Nayland Rock Hotel also featured in Killing Eve (2018-2022), as well as King of Thieves (2018).
The Port of Ramsgate offers 32 acres of dedicated Port Land including 3 modern Ro-Ro bridges and Water and bunker facilities on all berths. It is often used as ‘stand-in’ for the Port of Dover. Royal Harbour Marina offers 700 finger moorings set in a picturesque and historic harbour setting. Crime dramas to previously film at the Port of Ramsgate include The Tunnel: Vengeance (2017) and Baptiste (2019).
Dover houses the major port, connecting the UK with the European mainland. Dover Castle towers above the town, signalling Dover’s strategic importance in the defence of the country and the White Cliffs are one of the most recognised landmarks in Britain. Recent productions to have filmed in Dover include Pistol (2022), Rogue Agent (2022), and The Tunnel: Sabotage (2016).
The Citadel, located on Dover‘s Western Heights was constructed in the late 1700’s as a port of defence during the Napoleonic war. Most recently it has been used as a borstal, prison, and immigration detention centre up until its closure in 2015. It is now becoming popular as a filming location and has welcomed several productions over the past year – soon to broadcast.
The town of Sevenoaks has a varied landscape, featuring a bustling high street, stately homes and castles as well as beautiful countryside. Located in that countryside is the St Clere Estate, which offers stunning views of the North Downs, formal gardens, paddocks, a kitchen garden, orangery, green houses, and a temple by the lake. Built in 1630, it has some fine architectural examples of the Caroline era. It has recently played host to a variety of productions including The Great (2020-2021), Gangs of London (2020-2022) and The Third Day (2020).
Creator / Writer: Bruno Heller Directors: Danny Cannon, Rob Bailey, Bill Eagles, Jon East, Clare Kilner, China Moo-Young Starring: Jack Bannon, Ben Aldridge, Hainsley Lloyd Bennett, Paloma Faith Production Company: Warner Bros Kent Locations Used: The Historic Dockyard Chatham
Pennyworth (2019-2021) tells the origin story of Alfred Pennyworth a former special‑forces soldier living in London in the 1960s and how he came to work for Bruce Wayne’s father, Thomas Wayne.
During Series One production visited The Historic Chatham Dockyard for filming where exterior scenes were shot around the Ropery, including a chase scene on the roof, Old Pay Office, Admiral’s Office and Anchor Wharf to stand in as 1960s London.
During Series Two production visited former MOD site Lodge Hill in Rochester, Medway to shoot some scenes.
The Historic Chatham Dockyard is a historic tourist attraction on the site of a former Royal Naval Dockyard and has been the location for several recent productions set in the 1950s and 1960s including Call the Midwife (2018) and The Crown (2016). Lodge Hill in Rochester is a huge former MOD site of around 350 hectares offering numerous large warehouses, hard standing for set builds, two lakes, a helicopter landing area and miles of country roads and dirt tracks for driving sequences.
Pennyworth Series One was released on Starzplay on 25th October 2019.
Series Two was released on Sunday 28th February 2021.
Presenter: Fearne Cotton Starring: Michelle Ogundehin, Mary Portas, Jade Jagger, Matthew Williamson Production Company: Darlow Smithson Productions / Endemol Shine Kent Locations Used: Whitstable
On Interior Design Masters (2019-), ten designers take on different design projects and compete with each other to gain a commission with a client for a job.
Among the contestants is Jim Biddulph, 32, from Margate. He left a previous job as a design writer to pursue his new career which was 10 years in the making and seized the opportunity to be involved in the programme. Fellow contestant Frank Newbold also boasts Kent connections as he previously lived in Rochester.
In Episode 7 , the semi final, the three remaining candidates are asked to each remodel a hairdressers in Whitstable High Street. Guest judge Lawrence Llewelyn-Bowen will help to decide whether the classic look of Len’s Barber Shop, the futuristic theme of Jelly Beanz or the industrial remodel of Edge is good enough to get the designer to the final.
Whitstable is on the north coast of Kent. The town is famous for its oysters, celebrated during the famous Oyster Festival during the summer.
The series was created by BBC 2 and Netflix, consisting of eight episodes.
Episode One of Interior Design Masters will be shown on BBC Two on Wednesday 14th August 2019 at 8pm on BBC2.
Welcome to Curiosity (2018) follows four interconnected stories as a group of people in the small town of Curiosity find themselves linked to a notorious serial killer. It was the world’s first film to raise its entire production budget through crowdfunding.
Various scenes were shot on the streets of Gravesend and Rochester. Fort Borstal also features, doubling as an abandoned warehouse where the criminals return after their heist and Fordy (Richard Blackwood) tries to double-cross them.
Gravesend is a town in northwest Kent on the south bank of the Thames. Gravesend’s pier is the oldest remaining cast-iron pier in the world, and the town also boasts an unspoilt promenade, high street and two shopping centres. Previous productions to have filmed here include The Escape (2018), The Interceptor (2015) and The Long Memory (1953).
Rochester City has the feel of a medieval market town, with cathedral, castle ruin and unspoilt high street by the River Medway. Built in 1895, Fort Borstal was designed to hold the high ground southwest of Rochester. Used as an anti-aircraft battery in WWII, then later a pig farm and Young Offenders Institute storage space, the site has now been sold and converted into living accommodation. Previous productions to have filmed in Rochester include Jekyll and Hyde (2015), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (2012) and Last Orders (2002).
Welcome to Curiosity (2018) was released on Friday 8th June 2018 and is available to purchase on Amazon Prime.
Secret Britain is a BBC series which explores the hidden corners of the UK in search of the best landscapes in the country.
Now in its third series, the production visited Kent between September and October 2015 to explore some of what Kent’s glorious countryside has to offer.
Presenters Ellie Harrison, Chris Hollins and Denise Lewis filmed at a variety of Kent locations including Sheldwich, Bonnington, Little Chart, Tonbridge, Rochester, Coolingand North Kent Marshes, The White Cliffs of Dover, Fairfield and Thanet Offshore Wind Farm.
The village of Sheldwich lies south of Faversham and is on the edge of the beautiful Kent Downs. The Faversham area has been used as a film location for A Taste of Britain(2014), Southcliffe (2013) and Great Expectations(2012).
In the Ashford district of Kent is the village of Bonnington with the The Royal Military Canal running through it as well as Little Chart which is home to the Ruins of St Mary’s Church. The Ashford area has previously been used as a film location by such The Apprentice(2015), as Emma (2009) and the infamous Kentish series, The Darling Buds of May(1991 – 1993).
The West Kent market town of Tonbridge has a rich cultural heritage and spectacular scenery with beautiful countryside, castles, stately homes, gardens, farms, as well as sports and leisure facilities. Productions that have previously filmed in the area include Great British Railway Journeys(2014) and BBC dramaMissing (2010).
In the Medway district is the historic town of Rochester and village of Cooling which overlooks the gorgeous North Kent Marshes. The Medway area has previously been seen on screen in Jekyll and Hyde (2015), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (2012) and Sherlock Holmes (2009).
The Thanet Offshore Wind Farm consists of 100 wind turbines which stretches for seven miles. The Thanet area has previously featured on screen in productions such as The Lady in the Van(2015) and Eastenders(2015).
Don’t miss the Kent episode of Secret Britain which will air on Wednesday 6th April 2016 at 21:00 on BBC One.
Returning in 2015 for its fifth year is The One Show Rickshaw Challenge, in aid of BBC Children in Need. With help from The One Show presenters Matt Baker and Alex Jones, six young riders embark upon an epic 470-mile journey pedalling a rickshaw.
Across eight days the team will cycle from Land’s End to the East End, beginning their pursuit on Friday 6th November 2015. The end of Day Six will see the team touch down in Brighton, before beginning the sixty miles plus journey to The Historic Dockyard Chatham the following day. The expedition will take the team through a number of towns in Kent, including parts of Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone, Chatham, Rochester,GravesendandDartford .
The cumulative total of money raised so far by The Rickshaw Challenge is over £7.9 million, all of which goes towards supporting disadvantaged young people in the UK.
Rochester offers beautiful cobbled streets, parks and the Cathedral and castle while Chatham is home to The Historic Dockyard Chatham, Day Seven’s final destination before Team Rickshaw makes their way up to Elstree to finally complete the challenge. The Historic Dockyard Chatham is a popular filming location on account of its Georgian and Victorian architecture and authentic cobbled streets (which the rickshaw riders might be hoping to avoid!). The Medway area has previously been seen on screen in Jekyll and Hyde (2015), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (2012) and Sherlock Holmes (2009).
Dartfordis situated close to Bromley and Bexley and boasts great travel links in and out of Kent. Full of quaint architecture and great guesthouses and hotels, Dartford has hosted other productions in the past such as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows– Part 1 (2010) and The Inbetweeners(2010).
Tune into The One Show on BBC One at 19:00, BBC One to follow Team Rickshaw’s progress from Friday 6th November until Friday 13th November, when the Children in Need Appeal Show will be airing.
ITV’s new ten-part series Jekyll and Hyde is set in the 1930’s and features Robert Jekyll, the grandson of the original famed Dr Jekyll.
This new action adventure starts with Robert Jekyll living with his foster parents in India, ignorant of his family history and his mysterious, inherited condition. The drama begins when Robert Jekyll unveils the nature of his ‘curse’ which sees him transform into Hyde in moments of extreme anger, stress and when lives are threatened.
The show was conceived by Charlie Higson (Young Bond, The Enemy) and inspired by The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. Higson executive produces the series alongside Francis Hopkinson (Henry VIII, Colditz, Wallander) and Foz Allan (Wolfblood, The Dumping Ground, Robin Hood) as Series Producer.
Directed by Colin Teague (Torchwood, The Last Drop) and starring Tom Bateman (Da Vinci’s Demons, The Tunnel) as Jekyll and Hyde alongside Richard E Grant (Doctor Who, Downton Abbey) and Natalie Gumede (Doctor Who, Coronation Street).
The Jekyll and Hyde production team chose to film in Kent between February and July 2015 at Rochester High Street where the exterior of Vraitch Vision doubles as Empire music hall in London and The Guildhall Museumfeatures as the hotel where Dr Jekyll (Tom Bateman) first lodges when arriving in England. The Historic Dockyard Chatham was used to double as Gravesend Docks, Tenebrae offices and factory and various areas of the site feature as London Streets and markets.
Elmley Nature Reservefeatures in episode three as the setting for Maggie’s (Niamh Walsh) country house, where Robert Jekyll, Garson (Donald Sumpter), Max Utterson (Christian McKay) and Hils (Ruby Bentall) visit before a showdown with The Cutter (Jason La Shard). The Fort Amherst tunnels are used in episodes 9 and 10 where Jekyll finds out about the powers of The Incubus.
The Historic Dockyard Chatham is set across an 80 acre site with Georgian and Victorian historic buildings, a dry dock, cobbled streets and industrial buildings. The location has previously been used in Call the Midwife, Mr Turner (2015) and Les Miserables(2013).
‘When you’re at the top there’s only one place you can go.’
Baywatch star, David Hasselhoff, will return to UK television screens playing a fictionalized version of himself, The Hoff, in his new six part mockumentary series titled Hoff the Record.
This semi-improvised comedy show commissioned specially by UKTV for Dave, will be based on The Hoff attempting to reignite his career, whilst being constantly challenged by his director, Josh Brooke-Webb, played by Craig Roberts (Submarine, 22 Jump Street), as they film a biopic of his life. As he lands in the UK to start a new life, The Hoff receives none of his preferential Hollywood treatment; instead, much to his dismay, he is landed with a star-struck driver and a first-time Personal Assistant. Hasselhoff’s fictionalised character has hit rock bottom. Will his luck change?
The Hoff the Record team filmed at Fort Borstal near Rochester for three days in November 2014. Kent is featured in the 5th episode where a combat scene was staged outside the old prison.
Don’t miss the Hoff the Record, which starts on Thursday 18th June 2015 at 21:00 on Dave and the Kent episode which airs on Thursday 16th July 2015 at 21:00 on Dave.
This BBC Two series followsjournalist and broadcaster Michael Portillo as he travels the country by train and looks into how Britain’s railways have shaped the country as well as the impact trains have had on our lives.
On thejourney between cathedral cities Norwich and Chichester, Michael Portillo travels across the South East and visits some delightful Kent locations. In episode 18 of the fifth series, he visits Gravesendwhere he discovers how army officer General Gordon influenced the town before he travels to Rochesterto explore the one time home of renowned writer Charles Dickens.
In the next episode, Michael starts his journey in Favershamwhere he visits one of the oldest breweries in the country, Shepherd Neame, to investigate how railways helped the brewery transport beer. He then visits Doverto explore the fortification at Western Heights before heading to Tonbridge where he learns how railways helped Tonbridge School to cricketing glory.
Gravesendis on the south bank of the River Thames and has a cast iron pier, promenade and high street as well as international links at the nearby Ebbsfleet International station. Gravesend has welcomed other film productions such as Long Lost Family: Born without Trace (2020).
Rochesteris a historic City that boasts an impressive cathedral and castle that links back to the medieval period. The City has strong connections with Charles Dickens, and many TV and film adaptations of his famous novels have filmed in the area.
Favershamis a beautiful, historic market town which boasts nearly 500 listed buildings and is set on the picturesque Faversham Creek. It has many restaurants, shops, attractions and beautiful walks and has been used for various productions including Channel 4 drama Southcliffe (2013) and the nearby Oare Marsheswere used in feature filmGreat Expectations(2012).
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. Productions that have previously filmed in the area includeMissing(2010).
Don’t miss the Kent episodes of Great British Railway Journeys which will be shown on Wednesday 29 January 2014 at 18:30 on BBC Two and Thursday 30 January 2014 at 18:30 on BBC Two.
