tv entertainment

Hunted Series 2 (2016)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Hunted HQ team standing at a map of the UK

Hunted HQ © Channel 4

 

Production Company: Shine TV

Kent locations used: Tunbridge Wells, Sittingbourne, Isle of Sheppey

Channel 4’s Hunted returns for a second series where 10 ordinary people take the challenge to remain hidden for 28 days with the chance of winning a share of £100,000. With a team of professional hunters trying to trace their every move and members of the public looking to trade information for cash, will they be able to stay hidden?

The final episode was partly filmed in Kent where the remaining two fugitives hid out in Tunbridge Wells and Isle of Sheppey the night before the final day. The fugitives must race to the finish line which is a boat moored on the Isle of Sheppey – will they make it in time or will the Hunters catch them?

Tunbridge Wells is an historic spa town with a picturesque High Street that has many independent shops and restaurants. Projects which have previously filmed in the area include Terry and Mason’s Great Food Trip (2015).

Sittingbourne and the Isle of Sheppey is in the Swale district of Kent and offers town areas, flat open landscapes and beautiful beach areas. Southcliffe (2103), Great Expectations (2012) and The Sweeney (2012) have previously been filmed in Swale.

The final episode of Hunted series two was shown on Channel 4 on Thursday 27th October 2016 at 21:00 and is available still here: http://www.channel4.com/programmes/hunted

 

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

Boomers (2014-2016)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
The Boomers cast sitting on a bench - Joan (JUNE WHITFIELD), John (RUSS ABBOT), Maureen (STEPHANIE BEACHAM), Carol (PAULA WILCOX), Trevor (JAMES SMITH), Joyce (ALISON STEADMAN), Alan (PHILIP JACKSON) C BBCHattrickJack Barnes

Joan (June Whitfield), John (Russ Abbot), Maureen (Stephanie Beacham), Carol (Paula Wilcox), Trevor (James Smith), Joyce (Alison Steadman), Alan (Philip Jackson) © BBC/Hattrick/Jack Barnes

Writer: Richard Pinto
Starring: Russ Abbot, Stephanie Beacham, Philip Jackson, James Smith, Alison Steadman, Paula Wilcox
Production Company: Hat Trick Productions
Kent Locations Used: Herne Bay

Boomers (2014-2016) is a BBC One comedy series following the ups and downs of a group of newly retired couples living in a seaside town in England.

The six-part sitcom stars many familiar faces including Russ Abbot (Last of the Summer Wine, The Sarah Jane Adventures), Stephanie Beacham (Dynasty, The Colbys), Philip Jackson (Above the Clouds (2020), Hercule Poirot’s Christmas (1995)), James Smith (The Thick of It, The Iron Lady), Alison Steadman (Gavin & Stacey, Life Is Sweet) and Paula Wilcox (Upstart Crow, The Queen’s Nose). Both series 1 and 2 were written by Richard Pinto (The Kumars at No, 42, Citizen Khan).

After filming the pilot episode in Herne Bay in 2013, the Boomers production team once again visited Herne Bay in May 2014 to film exteriors which doubled as a fictitious Norfolk seaside town. Filming location­­s included the bandstand where they filmed an open day celebration with Morris dancers as well as Central Parade and Studd Hill.

Production returned to Herne Bay for Series 2.

Herne Bay is located on the Kent coast and boasts a delightful beach with a bandstand and seafront gardens as well as many shops and eateries, amusement arcades, and a windmill. Previous productions which have filmed in Herne Bay include Big Bad World (2013) and The Things I Haven’t Told You (2008).

Series 1 of Boomers aired on BBC One from Friday 15th August 2014.

Series 2 of Boomers aired on BBC One from Friday 25th March 2016.

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

Children in Need – The Rickshaw Challenge (2015)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Pudsey the bear in the studio with Team Rickshaw sat on the sofa behind him

The One Show’s Rickshaw challenge 2015 – Team Rickshaw. (l-r) Alex Jones, Lucy, George G, Pudsey, Erin, Amira, Matt Baker, George D, Elliot © BBC

Kent Locations: Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone, Chatham, The Historic Dockyard Chatham, Rochester, Gravesend, Dartford

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, Gravesend and Dartford .

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.

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 Britain’s Best Bakery (2012), Terry and Mason’s Great Food Trip (2015) and Hunted (2012).

Maidstone is the county town of Kent, home to a number of parks and shopping facilities, as well as The Maidstone Studios which is the UK’s largest independent High Definition TV studio facility. Productions which have filmed in the area include Take Me Out (2015), Later… with Jools Holland (2015) and Couples Come Dine With Me (2014).

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).

The town of Gravesend is situated in North West Kent, with exceptional transport links up to London. Gravesend has previously hosted productions including Babylon (2014), The Interceptor (2015) and Great British Railway Journeys (2014).

Dartford is 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.

 

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

The Apprentice (2015)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
The Apprentice Contestant behind Karren Brady, Lord Sugar and Claude Littner

The Apprentice Contestant with Karren Brady, Lord Sugar, Claude Littner © BBC/Boundless/Jim Marks

 

Production company: Talkback

Kent Locations: Dover Castle, Margate, Ramsgate, Sandwich, Dover, Whitstable, Ashford 

The Apprentice is a popular BBC One show where ambitious entrepreneurs compete to avoid hearing the famous line “You’re Fired” and win Lord Sugar’s £250,000 investment.

The 18 candidates will have to show their commercial insight and business sense throughout the 12 tough tasks which are closely watched by Lord Sugar’s advisors Baroness Karren Brady and, replacing Nick Hewer, Claude Littner.

In episode three of series 11, “Cross-Channel Discount Buying”, Lord Sugar summons the group to the wartime tunnels underneath Dover Castle where the two teams “Connexus” and “Versatile” are given their task – half of the team must stay in Kent and the other half must travel to France to find nine items and negotiate the best possible price. The team that spends the least amount of money will win.

During the task, the teams visit Kent towns including Margate, Ramsgate, Sandwich, Dover, Whitstable and Ashford.

With the mission over, the teams head back to the boardroom to find out who won and which candidates are in the firing line.

Margate and Ramsgate are coastal towns in the Thanet District of Kent offering gorgeous beaches, historic towns and a harbour. The area has previously featured in productions such as Eastenders (2015), Edge of Heaven (2013) and True Love (2012).

Situated on the River Stour is the medieval town of Sandwich which has some of the best-preserved half-timbered houses in the country, eateries and B&B’s. The area has been used for filming on projects including Steph and Dom Meet Nigel Farage (2014) and World War Z (2013).

Dover is home to the infamous White Cliffs of Dover, Dover Castle and the Port of Dover, Europe’s busiest passenger port. Productions which have previously filmed in the Dover area include Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Mr Selfridge Series 3 (2015) and Missing (2009).

Whitstable is a seaside town near Canterbury, famous for its annual Oyster Festival as well as the delightful harbour, shingle beach, busy high street and strong arts and culture scene.  Terry and Mason’s Great Food Trip (2015) and Tipping the Velvet (2002) have previously chosen to film in Whitstable.

Ashford is a market town with many shops, eateries, and a designer outlet shopping centre with London and Europe are just a train ride away through Ashford International train station. Ashford and surrounding areas has been used as a film location from visiting productions including Gadget Man (2014), The Monuments Men (2014) and Emma (2009).

Don’t miss the Cross-Channel Discount Buying episode of The Apprentice featuring Kent which will be shown on Wednesday 21st October 2015 at 21:00 on BBC One.

 

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

 

 

 

Seven Days With… (2015)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Ola and James Jordan standing with their arms round each other in their garden.

Ola and James Jordan © ITV Plc

Production company: Shiver

Kent Locations Used: Manor Park, West Malling

Reality show “Seven Days With….” which follows a number of celebrity couples for a week returns to ITV Be for a second series, giving viewers a taste of what daily celebrity lives entails.

Episode 1 of the new series feature Kent based professional ballroom dancers and Strictly Come Dancing stars James and Ola Jordan, as they deal with Ola’s potentially career-threatening leg injury.

During the week, the couple visited Manor Park Country Park in West Malling which is a large, open green space with a beautiful lake.

The surrounding area has previously featured on screen in productions including Missing Series Two (2010) and Cape Wrath (2007).

Don’t miss Seven Days With… James and Ola Jordan, which will be shown on Monday 22nd June 2015 at 22:00 on ITV Be.

 

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

Hoff the Record (2015)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
David Hasselhoff singing into a microphone in a club with pink balloons behind him

David Hasselhoff as The Hoff ©UKTV

Starring: David Hasselhoff

Production Company: Me & You Productions Ltd

Kent Locations Used: Fort Borstal, Rochester

‘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. 

 

 

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

Top Gear – Series 22, Episode 3 (2015)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
James May, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond staring into the boot of a car

James May, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond ©BBC Worldwide Ltd

Production company: BBC

Kent Locations Used: MOD Training Area – Lydd

Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May return to Kent to conduct research into the public health services in their attempt to revamp, enhance and improve the Ambulance.

They begin with a joint belief that the very big diesel vans are in need of an upgrade. Putting their thinking caps on, the presenters each focus on one area of the vehicle they feel they could improve.

While Hammond focuses on getting other drivers out of the way more effectively, May tries to reevaluate passenger comfort and Clarkson, unsurprisingly, aims to create a ‘sports ambulance’.

Who will get to the scene first and whose new ambulance reacts best in an emergency?

Catch the team in Lydd where the presenters test their vehicles to the limit. Lydd Ranges is a large training area on East Sussex border and boasts barrack style camps, seafront, lakes and whole villages marked as training areas. It was previously used in Ginger and Rosa (2012).

Episode 3 of Top Gear is aired on Sunday 8th February  2015at 8:00pm on BBC2.

The Only Way is Essexmas (2014)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
The Only Way Is Essex on ITVBe. Pictured: Gemma Collins, Chloe Sims, Bobby Cole Norris and Georgia Kousoulou standing in a row with their arms around each other laughing

The Only Way Is Essex stars Gemma Collins, Chloe Sims, Bobby Cole Norris and Georgia Kousoulou © ITV Plc

Production company: Lime Pictures

Kent Locations: Lympne Castle

Reality show The Only Way is Essex follows the lives of a group of infamous Essex residents and returns to ITVBe with an hour long Christmas Special.

The show known as TOWIE is narrated by Denise van Outen and is now in its thirteenth series after becoming an instant hit when it first hit our screens in 2010.

The TOWIE cast including Gemma Collins, Chloe Sims, Lauren Pope, “Diags”, Tommy Mallet and Georgia Kousoulou held their luxury Christmas party at Kent’s Lympne Castle. Expect drama, surprise kisses under the mistletoe and arguments over the turkey!

Lympne Castle is an unspoiled 13th century castle in the Shepway district of Kent and boasts gardens and stunning views of the Romney Marsh. Lympne Castle has been used for a variety of photography shoots whilst the surrounding area has been featured on screen in The Honourable Woman (2014), Ginger and Rosa (2012) and Great Expectations (2011).

Don’t miss The Only Way is Essexmas which will be shown on Wednesday 10th December at 22:00 on ITVBe.

 

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

The Apprentice (2014)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
The Apprentice contestants with Karren Brady, Lord Alan Sugar and Nick Hewe in front of them. Skyline of London in background

The Apprentice contestants with Karren Brady, Lord Alan Sugar and Nick Hewer © BBC/Boundless/Jim Marks Photography

Production Company: Talkback

Kent Locations: Hever Castle, Canterbury

The Apprentice is the popular BBC series where aspiring businessmen and women battle it out for a chance to receive a £250,000 investment from renowned entrepreneur Lord Alan Sugar.

Now in its tenth series, the 20 candidates try to impress in a variety of challenges under the watchful eyes of Lord Sugar’s advisors, Karren Brady and Nick Hewer, to avoid the weekly boardroom firing.

In the fifth episode of the new series, the two teams are tasked with creating coach tours and have just 2 days to persuade people to part with their hard earned cash and take day trips to top tourist attractions outside London. One team decides to offer tours to Oxfordshire, whilst the other decides on Canterbury including a visit to Hever Castle. Which team will be victorious?

Canterbury is a historic City boasting the magnificent Canterbury Cathedral and St Augustine’s Abbey and St Martin’s Church which form a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The area also boasts the modern city, parks and open spaces as well as neighbouring quaint, traditional villages.  Previous productions that have filmed in Canterbury include Last Orders (2008).

Hever Castle is a thirteenth century castle which was once the childhood home of Anne Boleyn and boasts formal Italian Gardens and an ornamental lake. The location has featured in various productions including Inkheart (2008), The Other Boleyn Girl (2008) and Anne of a Thousand Days (1969).

Don’t miss The Apprentice episode featuring Canterbury which will be shown on Wednesday 5th November at 21:00 on BBC1.

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

The Great British Bake Off (2014)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry in the Great British Bake Off tent perched on a table

Paul Hollywood, Mary Berry © BBC, Love Productions, Mark Bourdillon

Production Company: Love Productions

Kent Locations Used: Viking Bay, Broadstairs

The fifth series of the hit cookery show The Great British Bake Off returns with experts Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry judging 12 contestants who battle it out in the kitchen to be crowned the Great British Bake Off Best Amateur Baker. 

Presented by comic duo Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc, the new series marks a move from BBC Two to a prime-time BBC One slot and features both the oldest and youngest competitors ever featured on the show.

Chetna baking behind a kitchen counter in the Bake Off tent

Chetna © BBC, Love Productions, Mark Bourdillon

Mum of two and Broadstairs resident Chetna Makan is also competing to win the accolade. Chetna is a fashion designer from Mumbai who moved to the UK 10 years ago. She runs a curry club for her friends and enjoys combining her mum’s traditional recipes with British baking as well as using her creative flair in the kitchen.

The Great British Bake Off filmed in Kent with Chetna and her family in their local area where they visited Viking Bay beach in Broadstairs.

Broadstairs is a coastal town in East Kent and sandy beach, Viking Bay beach is lined with traditional beach huts, a band stand and large Victorian terraces as well as a busy high street and many food and drink establishments. The area has previously been used for filming by productions such as True Love (2012), and The Fixer (2008). 

See how Chetna gets on and tune into the new series of The Great British Bake Off which starts on Wednesday 6th August 2014 on BBC One at 20:00.

 

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