Royal Tunbridge Wells

The Cleaner (2021)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Greg Davies as Paul ‘Wicky’ Wickstead is stood in a kitchen wearing white overalls and blue gloves and has a face mask around his neck. He has grey hair and a moustache and beard. Behind him is a fridge covered in blood.

The Cleaner (2021) © BBC / Studio Hamburg UK / Jonathan Browning

Director: Alex Winckler
Writer: Greg Davies
Starring: Greg Davies, Helena Bonham Carter, David Mitchell, Stephanie Cole, Layton Williams, Jo Hartley
Production Company: Studio Hamburg UK
Kent Locations Used: Private residences in Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone, Showfields Hall Community Centre

The Cleaner (2021) is a BBC sitcom that tells the story of Paul ‘Wicky’ Wickstead, a state-certified cleaning technician, who is responsible for the removal of any signs of death from crime scenes. When carrying out his duties, he stumbles across the strangest of people: from the victim’s relatives, employers, neighbours, and acquaintances, to occasionally even the murderers themselves. And because he’s a sociable type, he sometimes gossips more than he cleans.

The six-part series was directed by Alex Winckler (My Mad Fat Diary, Traitors). Greg Davies (Cuckoo, Man Down) wrote the series and plays the lead role. Each episode features a different co-star; Helena Bonham Carter (The Crown Series 1 – 6 (2016-2023), The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance) in Episode 1, David Mitchell (Peep Show, That Mitchell & Webb Look) in Episode 2, Stephanie Cole (Gentleman Jack, Doc Martin) in Episode 4, Layton Williams (Bad Education, Beautiful People) in Episode 5, and Jo Hartley (After Life, Eddie the Eagle) in Episode 6.

During filming, production visited several private residences in the Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone districts, and built a green screen set at Showfields Hall Community Centre in Tunbridge Wells. Each episode of the series focuses on a different crime scene, and Kent residences are the main locations for all but Episode 3.

The town of Sevenoaks boasts a varied landscape with acres of beautiful countryside, stately homes and castles as well as a thriving town centre. It is most known for being home to one of the oldest cricket grounds in the country – The Vine Cricket Ground. Previous productions to have filmed in the town of Sevenoaks include The Larkins (2021-2022), Making Noise Quietly (2019) and Parade’s End (2012).

Royal Tunbridge Wells is known for its Georgian and Victorian architecture, a shopping centre, bars, restaurants, and live music scene. Previous productions to visit the area include Catastrophe Series 4 (2019) and Queens of Mystery (2020-2021).

As the county town of Kent, Maidstone plays an important part in Kent’s history. The River Medway runs though the town centre linking it with other towns such as Rochester and Chatham. The Borough of Maidstone is a popular town for filming, previous productions include This Time With Alan Partridge – Season 2 (2021) and Hetty Feather Series 1 – 6 (2015 – 2020).

Episode 1 of The Cleaner aired on BBC One on Friday 10th September at 9.30pm. The full series was made available on BBC iPlayer on the same date.

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

Tuesdays and Fridays (2021)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Jhataleka Malhotra as Sia and Anmol Dhillon as Varun are stood together smiling with trees behind them. The man has black hair and a beard and wears a black jacket, and the woman has long brown hair and wears a red top.

Jhataleka Malhotra and Anmol Dhillon in Tuesdays and Fridays (2021) ©IMDb

Writer: Taranveer Singh
Director: Taranveer Singh
Starring: Anmol Dhillon, Jhataleka Malhotra, Zoa Morani
Production Company: Bhansali Productions
Kent Locations Used: Danemore Park

Varun (Anmol Dhillon) and Sia (Jhataleka Malhotra) do not trust relationships completely because of their upbringing. They try to figure out a way to live with their commitment issues by being a couple only on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Directed and written by Taranveer Singh (Kahat Hanuman Jai Shri Ram, Anni Dya Mzaak Ae by Whistle) the romantic comedy stars acting newcomer Anmol Dhillon as Varun and Jhataleka Malhotra (Femina Miss India) as Sia in the lead roles, supported by Zoa Morani (Yeh Crazy Dil, Bhaag Johnny) as Kajal and Niki Walia (Puncch Beat) as Dr. Radhika Malhotra.

Production filmed in Danemore Park for part of the filming. The house plays the role of a community home ran by Nimmi (Anuradha Patel), the mum of lead character Vahun Sarin. Various key scenes in the story take place at the house including one scene set during a fireworks party.

Danemore Park is a Grade II listed Georgian country house in 80 acres, with stable block, woodland and long driveway in the district of Royal Tunbridge Wells. The town is known for its Georgian and Victorian architecture, a shopping centre, bars, restaurants, and live music scene. Previous productions to visit the area include Catastrophe Series 4 (2019) and The Royals (2016-2018).

Tuesdays and Fridays was released on Netflix UK on Thursday 15th July 2021 after a delayed release due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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

Rupert, Rupert and Rupert (2019)

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Rupert, Rupert and Rupert Film Poster showing a montage of three extreme close ups of Sandy Batchelor’s face as Rupert, lying sideways with Rupert standing in the middle, waist up. Rupert Rupert Rupert is written in blue

Rupert, Rupert and Rupert Official Film Poster © Substantial Films

Writer: Mick Sands
Director: Tom Sands
Starring: Sandy Batchelor, Daisy Keeping, Adam Astill, Ben Porter
Production Company: Substantial Films
Kent Locations Used: Streets in Royal Tunbridge Wells: Brook Road, Gusta Café, alleyway between Prospect Road and London Road in Southborough.

This comedy follows the life of Rupert (Sandy Batchelor), a struggling actor with multiple personality disorder and his three identities that compete for control after he earns the lead role in a West End play and meets Stevie (Daisy Keeping), the production’s makeup artist, who shows a romantic interest in him.

Rupert, Rupert and Rupert was written by Mick Sands (Nazi Vengeance, The Holly Cane Experiment) and directed by Tom Sands (The Holly Cane Experiment, False Witness) and stars Sandy Batchelor (The Fall of the Krays, False Witness), Daisy Keeping (Neverlake, Humans (2016)), Adam Astill (All The Money in the World, World’s End) and Ben Porter (School for Seduction, Somers Town).

Areas in Royal Tunbridge Wells were used for filming, including Brook Road, where Stevie lives and holds a garden party. The exterior of Gusta Café is shown when Rupert’s agent walks out with a coffee. The alleyway between Prospect Road and London Road in Southborough, Tunbridge Wells was also used for filming.

A historic town with a lot of character, Royal Tunbridge Wells has also been used for filming for the musical Half a Sixpence (1967), specifically The Pantiles, a parade of shops with old-style Georgian architecture. Gusta is a popular Italian café and restaurant in the busy town centre.

Rupert, Rupert and Rupert was released on Friday 26th April 2019 and can be streamed on Amazon Prime.

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

By Royal Appointment (2008)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
By Royal Appointment written in a cartoon of an old envelope on a wooden background

By Royal Appointment Ident © KMB Productions

Kent Locations: Tunbridge Wells

By Royal Appointment explores the South East region collecting regal traditions and legacies of Royal connections. The series also features appearances from members of the Royal family including Princess Michael of Kent and Her Majesty the Queen.

Hannah Scott-Joynt sat down smiling at the camera with gardens and pathway behind her

Hannah Scott-Joynt presenter of By Royal Appointment © KMB Productions

In episode three, presenter Hannah Scott-Joynt visits Royal Tunbridge Wells to discover its noble past. Hannah’s visit takes her through the celebrated Pantiles famous for its Chalybeate Spring , whose waters attracted visitors from across the UK in Georgian times because of their healing properties. In 1909 Tunbridge Wells was given the right to use the word ‘Royal’ by King Edward VII and is still one of only two towns to be allowed to use the prefix.

After her visit to the Pantiles, Hannah partakes in a rather competitive game of Croquet with the local Croquet Club.

The influx of visitors in Georgian and Victorian times means that the area is filled with beautiful period architecture.  Its popularity has never waived and it is still a favourite with both tourists and filmmakers today.

Tunbridge Wells is a town in West Kent, home to a host of historic buildings, specialist shops, churches and a busy town centre. Productions which have previously filmed in the area include Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year (2016), Terry and Mason’s Great Food Trip (2015)  and Hunted (2012).

By Royal Appointment visits Royal Tunbridge Wells on Thursday 17th July 2008 on Meridian at 19.30.

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

Half A Sixpence (1967)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
a car driving along a road outside the Pantiles, people are walking along the side of the road

Screenshot from Half a Sixpence at The Pantiles © Paramount Pictures

Director: George Sidney
Starring: Tommy Steele, Julia Foster, Cyril Ritchard
Production Company: Ameran Films
Kent Locations Used: The Pantiles – Royal Tunbridge Wells, Aylesford

Based on the novel, Kipps: The Story of a Simple Soul by H.G. Wells, Half a Sixpence (1967) is a musical based on the themes of wealth and class. The film follows a draper’s assistant, Arthur Kipps (Tommy Steele), who falls in love with a chambermaid named Ann (Julia Foster). When Kipps inherits a fortune, he is torn between two worlds.

Golden Globe winning director George Sidney (Bye Bye Birdie, Viva Las Vegas) directs the film which stars Tommy Steele (The Happiest Millionaire, Tommy the Toreador), Julia Foster (Dad’s Army, The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner) and Cyril Ritchard (Peter Pan, Blackmail).

The Pantiles in Royal Tunbridge Wells is the set for Shalfords Emporium in the film, where Kipps apprenticed and the town of Aylesford was the setting of Kipps’ childhood home.

Situated in West Kent, Tunbridge Wells is a large town with a busy town centre and a period shopping area, The Pantiles, offering a fascinating variety of small specialist shops, antique shops, open-air cafés, restaurants and bars. Previous productions that have been filmed in Tunbridge Wells include Terry and Mason’s Great Food Trip (2015).

A shot of Aylesford Bridge, with the river and village in the background

Screenshot from Half a Sixpence of Aylesford Bridge © Paramount Pictures

Aylesford is a picturesque village located on the banks of the River Medway complete with a Norman Church and Victorian houses, pubs and open spaces.

Half a Sixpence (1967) was released on Thursday 21st December 1967 and is available to purchase on DVD.

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