Tamsin Greig

The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin (2024)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Noel Fielding as Dick Turpin stands in front of a medieval castle wall. Behind him are various metal crates, barrels and amphorae. He is wearing a black velvet medieval coat, red waistcoat, black ruffled shirt, silver necklace with a star, silver square signet ring and black bicorne with a feather cockade.

Noel Fielding in The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin © Apple TV+

Creator: Claire Downes, Ian Jarvis, Stuart Lane
Starring: Noel Fielding, Hugh Bonneville, Ellie White, Tamsin Greig, Asim Chaudry, Joe Wilkinson
Production Company: Big Talk Productions
Kent Locations Used: Bygone Farm, Chiddingstone, Fort Amherst, Penshurst, High Rocks

The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin (2024) is a six-part comedy series following lovable rogue Dick Turpin who unwillingly becomes head of a band of outlaws intent on outwitting the corrupt lawman Jonathan Wilde.

The series was created by Claire Downes, Ian Jarvis and Stuart Lane (The Job Lot, Carters Get Rich) and stars Noel Fielding (The Mighty Boosh, Noel Fielding’s Luxury Comedy) as Dick Turpin and Hugh Bonneville (The Gold (2023), Muppets Most Wanted (2014)) as Jonathan Wilde. Supporting cast includes Ellie White (Wonka, Ellie & Natasia), Tamsin Greig (The Amazing Mr Blunden (2021), Belgravia (2020)), Asim Chaudry (People Just Do Nothing, Black Mirror: Bandersnatch) and Joe Wilkinson (After Life, The Cockfields).

Production visited various locations in Kent to film for the medieval series, including the picturesque village of Chiddingstone, Bygone Farm, Fort Amherst, Penshurst village and High Rocks.

Built in medieval style, Bygone Farm is an extraordinary farm location and a perfect double for an ancient medieval farm of village. The farm features a courtyard, oak barn, traditional farmhouse, stables, and 50 acres of rolling parkland. There are also various vintage farm tools, machinery and farmyard props available including an old plough, oak barrels and a traditional horse cart.

Chiddingstone is one of the oldest and most picturesque villages in Kent. A beautiful example of a Tudor one-street village, over 70% of the buildings are more than 200 years old and many feature half-timbered sides, gables and stone-hung red-tiled roofs. Previous productions to have filmed in the village include, A Room With a View (1986) and The Larkins (2021-2022).

Built during Napoleonic times to defend Medway from a land-based attack, Fort Amherst consists of two run-down period outbuildings, cannons, defensive ditches, dressed period guard quarters, and atmospheric underground tunnels. Recent productions to have filmed there include The Witcher Series 3 (2023), The Nevers (2021) and Darkest Hour (2018).

Penshurst village is situated in the Tonbridge & Malling district. Tonbridge is a riverside town with picturesque castle, churches and historic buildings. Other productions to have filmed there include PRU (2022), Making Noise Quietly (2019) and Missing (2009-2010).

Once a Stone Age camp, the High Rocks are magnificent sandstone rocks interlinked with bridges in a tranquil woodland setting. Situated within the High Rocks complex there are four oak beam function rooms, each with its own bar and dance floor. Britannia Series 3 (2021) filmed at the High Rocks.

The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin (2024) will release on Apple TV+ on Friday 1st March 2024.

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

The Amazing Mr Blunden (2021)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Simon Callow, as Mr Blunden, stands in the centre of the frame. Either side of him, peering over some large decorative ornaments, are two children Jamie, played by Jason Rennie, on the left, and Lucy, played by Tsion Habte, on the right. They are inside of a historic looking room with dark orange walls. On either side are windows covered by lace net curtains, and large drawn open grey curtains. Jamie has short curly black hair and wears a black unzipped hoodie with a red t-shirt. Only Lucy’s head is visible, and she has long curly black hair. Mr Blunden has receding white hair and a full grey beard. He wears a long brown woollen coat, with a brown waistcoat underneath and a large red woollen scarf wrapped around his neck. All three characters look nervously off-screen.

The Amazing Mr Blunden © Sky

Writer: Mark Gatiss
Director: Mark Gatiss
Starring: Simon Callow, Tamsin Greig, Mark Gatiss, Tsion Habte, Jason Rennie, India Fowler, Xavier Wilkins
Production Company: Adorable Media
Kent Locations Used: Finchcocks

Based on the 1972 family film of the same name, The Amazing Mr Blunden (2021) tells the story of modern teenagers Lucy and Jamie, whose encounter with a mysterious old man called Mr Blunden leads to them becoming caretakers of an old country home. They soon discover that the home is haunted by the spirits of two young children, Sara and Georgie, and with the help of Mr Blunden, the two teens must travel back in time to save the children’s lives.

Written and directed by Mark Gatiss (Sherlock, Doctor Who), The Amazing Mr Blunden stars renowned actor Simon Callow (Four Weddings and a Funeral, A Room with a View (1985)) as Mr. Blunden, Tamsin Greig (Episodes, Friday Night Dinner) as Mrs. Wickens and Mark Gatiss as Mr. Wickens, as well as newcomers Tsion Habte (Liar (2017-2020), Sex Education (2021)) as Lucy, Jason Rennie as Jamie, India Fowler (Safe) as Sara and Xavier Wilkins as Georgie.

The production team visited Kent for their shoot, using Finchcocks in Goudhurst as Langley Park, the house the two teenagers are tasked with looking after. Built in 1725, Finchcocks is a fine early Georgian Manor set in 13 acres of parkland and gardens, with extensive views over the Kentish landscape. It is noted for its brickwork, with a dramatic baroque front elevation. For many years, the Manor played host to a Musical Museum, which housed around 115 period keyboard instruments, many of which have featured in TV and film themselves. Now operating as both a family home and a piano workshop retreat, Finchcocks has previously been used as the setting for a Pride and Prejudice sketch in the BBC show French and Saunders (1996).

The Amazing Mr Blunden aired on Sky and NowTV on Friday 24th December 2021.

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

Emma (2009)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Romola Garai in a pink dress and bonnet staring towards the ground with a smile in front of bushes with flowers on

Romola Garai © BBC

Director: Jim O’ Hanlon

Writer: Sandy Welch

Starring:Romola Garai, Jonny Lee Miller, Michael Gambon, Tamsin Greig, Rupert Evans, Robert Bathurst

Production Company: BBC

Kent Filming Locations: Chilham, Squerryes Court, Westerham.

This Autumn Jane Austen’s ‘Emma’ will once again grace our screens with a four part adaptation from the BBC. The new series sees Romola Garai (Atonement) starring as the incomparable Emma Woodhouse, with Michael Gambon (Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince) as her father.

Jane Austen describes Emma as ‘handsome, clever and rich’ and confessed that Emma is a heroine which no-one but her will like. Emma is determined not to marry. However, she cannot help but play matchmaker to all her friends, often with disastrous consequences. Will she ever learn to let love run its true course?

film light equipment pointed at a white wall with paintings on. Gold furniture is on the floor underneath.

Behind the Scenes at Squerryes © Squerryes

Behind the Scenes at Squerryes- formal gardens with grass and hedges- a film crew are in the centre on the grass and pathway

Behind the Scenes at Squerryes © Squerryes

Market in front of Chilham Castle with actors walking around the stalls.

Market in front of Chilham Castle © Kent Film Office

Wooden Meat Market Stall in front of a brick house with beams.

Meat Market Stall © Kent Film Office

Squerryes Court in Westerham with its grand Georgian rooms was the perfect location to double as the Woodhouse family home. The country house is located in 20 acres of beautiful grounds which include a spectacular garden and an 18th Century Dovecote.    Squerryes Court has been used for productions such as The Hollow Crown: Henry V (2012) and The Boat That Rocked (2009).

The production also chose the beautiful village of Chilham near Ashford to feature as Highbury. Chilham village retains much of its original features, which makes it perfect for period dramas. During filming the square was closed off and all signs of modern life, from the double yellow lines to the burglar alarms, were gently erased. In its place a vibrant market was installed to capture the essence of village life in Jane Austen’s time.

Chilham village has been used for a variety of filming projects including BBC’s Emma (2009), Channel 4 comedy Chickens (2011) and Miss Marple – The Moving Finger (2005).

The series was shown on BBC One on October 2009 and is now available to buy on DVD.

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