Sky Atlantic

Gangs of London (2020-2022)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Production poster showing the London skyline and four actors in suits above it in the rainy clouds. Sky Original Gangs of London written in white

Gangs of London (2019-2022) © Sky UK Limited

Creators: Gareth Evans, Matt Flannery
Starring: Narges Rashidi, Joe Cole, Lucian Msamati, Paapa Essiedu, Sope Dirisu
Production Company: Pulse Films
Kent Locations Used: St Clere Estate near Sevenoaks, Dartford

Gangs of London (2020-2022) tells the story of a city torn apart by power struggles, and the sudden vacuum that arises when Finn Wallace, the head of London’s most notorious crime family, played by Colm Meaney (Tolkien), is assassinated. Season 2 picks up one year after the death of Sean Wallace (Joe Cole), head of the Wallace Organisation,  an event which forces rival gangs and sworn enemies to join together to fight against a new order.

This Sky original series by Pulse Films is about the inner workings of the largest criminal organisation in London and was created by visionary, award-winning filmmaker Gareth Evans (The Raid, Apostle) and his creative partner Matt Flannery. The lead cast includes Narges Rashidi (Under the Shadow, The Allegation) as Lale, Joe Cole (Peaky Blinders, The Ipcress File) as Sean Wallace, Lucian Msamati (His Dark Materials, The Good Liar) as Ed Dumani, Paapa Essiedu (I May Destroy You, Men) as Alexander Dumani and Sope Dirisu (Humans (2016), The Halcyon (2017)) as Elliot Finch.

During filming of Season 1, production visited St Clere Estate in Sevenoaks to stage a Traveller site, and the Dartford Marshes featured as the landing spot for a drug delivery by a group of Turkish gang members. A short driving scene was also filmed on Pilgrim’s Way in Dartford.

Production revisited the Dartford Marshes for Series 2, where they filmed a weapons shipment arriving on the shore of the River Thames in Episode 7, and a dramatic fight scene in Episode 8 between Elliot (Sope Dirisu) and Sean (Joe Cole) that decides who will take over London.

St Clere Estate is set in 2,800 acres of rolling Kent countryside and offers stunning views of the North Downs. The estate features formal gardens, a meadow, ploughed fields, an orangery and a temple by the lake. Previous productions to film at St Clere Estate include The Great (2020-2023), The Third Day (2020) and Road Games (2016).

Dartford has a rich industrial heritage and boasts one of the largest shopping centres in Europe: Bluewater. The Dartford Marshes border the River Thames, and the area is a popular film location with recent productions to film here including The Corrupted (2019) and Trigger Point (2022).

Season 1 of Gangs of London was released on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV on Thursday 23rd April 2020.

Season 2 of Gangs of London will be available to stream on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV from Thursday 20th October 2022.

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

Devils (2021)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Patrick Dempsey as Dominic Morgan & Alessandro Borghi as Massimo Ruggero are walking down a stairway outside with skyscrapers in the background.

Patrick Dempsey as Dominic Morgan & Alessandro Borghi as Massimo Ruggero
© Antonello&Montesi

Writer: Elena Buccacio, Mario Ruggeri, Alessandro Sermoneta, Ben Harris, Chris Lunt, Michael A Walker
Director: Nick Hurran, Jan Michelini
Starring: Patrick Dempsey, Alessandro Borghi, Laia Costa
Production Company: Lux Vide, Sky Italia
Kent Locations Used: Kingsgate Bay in Broadstairs

Based on the novel by Guido Maria Brera, Devils (2021) is a brand new TV series set in the London Offices of a large investment bank where Massimo Ruggero (Alessandro Borghi) discovers a worldwide financial conspiracy. Will he side with the perpetrators or expose the fraud?

The writing of the show is shared amongst several writes, including Elena Buccacio (Magie and Bianca Fashion Friends), Mario Ruggeri (Don Matteo), Alessandro Sermoneta (Once Upon a Time The City of Fools), Ben Harris (Dark Heart), Chris Lunt (Prey) and Michael A Walker (Primevil). It is directed by Nick Hurran (Sherlock), and Jan Michelini (Medici). Starring Patrick Dempsey (Grey’s Anatomy, Bridget Jones’ Baby), Alessandro Borghi (Romulus and Remus: The First King), and Laia Costa (Cities, Only You).

Production visited the Kingsgate Bay in Broadstairs to film a dialogue scene on the clifftops.

Broadstairs is a coastal town on the Isle of Thanet in the East Kent district. Productions that have also visited this area include and The Tunnel (2016) and Humans (2016).

Devils was released on Sky Atlantic and NowTV on Wednesday 17th February 2021.

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

The Third Day (2020)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Jude Law as character Sam stands silhouetted by the sun looking towards the ground

The Third Day (2020) with Jude Law © Sky UK Limited

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.

Produced by Plan B Entertainment for HBO, The Third Day also stars Naomie Harris (Skyfall, Spectre), Mark Lewis Jones (The Crown , Chernobyl), Amer Chadha-Patel (Beecham House , Year of the Rabbit ) and Katherine Waterston (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Alien: Covenant). Directed by Marc Munden (Utopia, National Treasure) and Philippa Lowthorpe (Three Girls, The Crown ) the show was written by Dennis Kelly (Utopia, Black Sea) with Kit de Waal and Dean O’Loughlin contributing two episodes.

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.

Chiddingstone is one of the oldest and most picturesque villages in Kent. Within the Sevenoaks District, the village sits on the River Eden between Tonbridge and Edenbridge. Previous productions to film there include Terry and Mason’s Great Food Trip (2015) and Flog It! (2014).

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.

Allens Farm is a beautiful in the heart of the Sevenoaks district. Recent productions to have filmed in Sevenoaks include Gangs of London (2020) and The First Team (2020).

Bedgebury National Pinetum Forest in Tunbridge Wells has the world’s finest collection of Conifers. The site is a mixture of lakes, valleys, parkland and denser forest with a large variety of tree species. There are also adventure playgrounds, a Go Ape facility, restaurant, cafe and bike hire. Rupert, Rupert and Rupert (2019) and Queens of Mystery (2019) have previously filmed in Tunbridge Wells.

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.

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

This Is Our Family (2020)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
This Is Our Family 2017 cast standing in a row on the front patio of a house, smiling into the camera. The lady in the middle is sat on a pink chair.

This Is Our Family 2017 ©Sky UK ltd

Director: Ellena Wood
Production Company: Little Gem
Kent Locations Used: Margate

This Is Our Family (2020) follows four families from across the UK, to tell the stories of their lives over a three year period. This ambitious docu-series began filming four years ago and is split into four 60-minute episodes.

The episode directed by Ellena Wood (Louis Theroux: Talking to Anorexia) and co-directed by Holly Moy, follows three generations of strong women living under one roof in Margate. Maree Miles lives with her three daughters, Ellie, Lily and Dolce in her mum Irene’s house. 86 year-old Irene has dementia and her condition seems to be getting worse.

Executive Producers are Ben Gale and Helen Littleboy for Little Gem, with Natasha Bondy as Creative Director. Marvyn Benoit is Executive Producer for Sky.

Production visited Margate to film at the participants’ home as well as the seafront, including wide aerial drone shots that show the true scale of the town.  Scenes were also filmed at The Rodney Pub, Margate Hospital, Margate Crematorium, Margate High street and a local hairdresser.

Margate is a seaside town complete with sandy beach, harbour, amusement park, period housing and the ultra-modern art gallery Turner Contemporary  which offers exhibitions, events and various educational opportunities.

Other productions to visit Margate include Interior Design Masters (2019), The Empty Housing Scandal (2019) and George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces – Series 8 (2018).

The ‘The Miles Family’ episode will debut on Sky Atlantic at 10PM on Tuesday 14th January 2020.

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