tv entertainment

Birds of a Feather (1989-1998)

Posted on by Kent Film Office

 

Birds of a Feather cast members stood in front of a door having a conversation at a desk

Birds of a Feather – Dorien Green (Lesley Joseph), Sharon Theodopolopodos (Pauline Quirke) and Tracey Stubbs (Linda Robson) © BBC

Director: Nick Wood

Starring: Pauline Quirke, Linda Robson, Leslie Joseph, Alun Lewis, Peter Polycarpou

Production Company: Alomo Productions, SelecTV

Kent Locations used: Maidstone Prison

Birds of a Feather is a comedy series about two sisters, Sharon and Tracey Stubbs who move in together after both their husbands end up in jail following an armed robbery attempt.

Sharon has been struggling and her husband’s crime isn’t a surprise whereas Tracey has been living her dream life in Chigwell and is shell-shocked to find her beloved husband is a criminal.

The sisters must get used to their enforced new circumstances and deal with their husbands being in jail as well as their sex-mad neighbour Dorien Green.

Birds of a Feather was created by Laurence Marks (Goodnight Sweetheart, The Last Laugh), and stars Pauline Quirke (Broadchurch, Emmerdale), Linda Robson (Casualty, Crossroads), Leslie Joseph (Night & Day, Rumble), Alun Lewis (Emmerdale, Lexx), and Peter Polycarpou (Evita, EastEnders).

The long running BBC franchise finished after nine series in 1998. However, in 2013 it was revived with a tenth series for ITV, and an eleventh series has been commissioned.

HM Maidstone Prison was used to film the exterior prison scenes throughout the original series.

Maidstone lies on the River Medway and is the county town of Kent offering shopping areas and parks. It is close to many tourist attractions, such as Kent Life and Leeds Castle.   The Maidstone Studios has hosted filming for TV productions such as  Take Me Out (2010-2019). 

Birds of A Feather was shown on the BBC between 1989-1998 and is now available to buy on DVD.

 

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

Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em, Series One (1973)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Michele Dotrice as Betty and Michael Crawford as Frank Spencer standing in front of a train on the platform

Michele Dotrice as Betty and Michael Crawford as Frank Spencer © BBC

Writer: Raymond Allen
Starring: Michael Crawford and Michele Dotrice
Production Company: BBC
Kent Locations Used: Herne Bay

Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em (1973) is a BBC sitcom following the accident-prone Frank Spencer (Michael Crawford) and his ill-fated attempts to hold down a job and look after his family.

There were three series and four Christmas Specials which ran between 1973 and 1978. The show was created and written by Raymond Allen and starred Michael Crawford (The Knack …and How to Get It, Hello, Dolly!) as Frank Spencer and Michele Dotrice (Vanity Fair, Not Now, Comrade) as his long-suffering wife, Betty.

Herne Bay was used as a location for two episodes of the programme’s first series. The High Street and William Street featured in the very first episode, The Job Interview, where Frank arrives at a shop for a job interview.

The Railway Station and the Carlton Hotel feature in the episode four Have a Break, Take a Husband for scenes on Frank and Betty’s ill-fated second honeymoon.

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. Other productions which have filmed in Herne Bay include Boomers (2014), Little Britain Series One (2003) and Only Fools and Horses, the Jolly Boys’ Outing (1989).

Series 1 of Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em (1973) was originally broadcast between Thursday 15th February – Thursday 29th March 1973, and is now available to purchase on DVD.

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

The Beverly Hillbillies Season 6 & 7 (1967-1968)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
The Beverly Hillbillies poster- 4 cast members smiling at the camera in front of a doorway. The Beverly Hillbillies written on a wooden sign above

The Beverly Hillbillies poster © Filmways Television/McCadden Productions

Creator: Paul Henning
Director: Joseph Depew
Starring: Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, Donna Douglas, Max Baer Jr., Raymond Bailey, Nancy Kulp
Production Company: Filmways Television, McCadden Productions
Kent Locations Used: Penshurst Place

The Beverly Hillbillies (1962-1971) is an American comedy about a poor hillbilly family who strike it rich after they find oil on their land. They move to Beverly Hills where they shake things up by bringing an unsophisticated and minimalistic lifestyle to the swank, sometimes self-obsessed and superficial community.

The Beverly Hillbillies was created by Paul Henning (The Bob Cummings Show, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) and accumulated seven Emmy nominations during its nine series run.

Joseph Depew (The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, The Jack Benny Program) directed 145 episodes, including those filmed in Kent which stars Buddy Ebsen (Born to Dance, Breakfast at Tiffany’s), Irene Ryan (Petticoat Junction, Will You Stop!), Donna Douglas (Frankie and Johnny, Checkmate), Max Baer Jr. (Macon County Line, The Wild McCullochs), Raymond Bailey (Vertigo, The Incredible Shrinking Man) and Nancy Kulp (The AristoCats, Shane).

Penshurst Place entrance with driveway and trees. A car is parked in front

The Beverly Hillbillies screenshot at Penshurst Place © Filmways Television/McCadden Productions

Penshurst Place with the writing Clampett Castle, kent, England on top

The Beverly Hillbillies screenshot at Penshurst Place © Filmways Television/McCadden Productions

The production chose to film at Penshurst Place which doubles as Clampett Castle which Jed (Buddy Ebsen) inherits, in Season 6 Episodes 3-4 and Season 7 Episodes 2-5.

Set in gorgeous parkland in West Kent, Penshurst Place is a Medieval and Tudor fortified style manor house boasting formal Elizabethan gardens, state rooms and Gardens, adventure playground and maze. A popular film location, Penshurst Place has also featured in productions such as Wolf Hall (2015), The Great Fire (2014) and The Other Boleyn Girl (2008).

The Beverly Hillbillies aired between 1962 – 1971 and is available to purchase on DVD.

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