TV Series

Unforgotten (2021)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
The image shows head shots of actors Sanjeev Bhaskar and Nicola Walker looking into the distance. Sanjeev wears a black coat and Nicola wears a red coat.

Sanjeev Bhaskar and Nicola Walker in Unforgotten (2020) Series 4 © Alex Fletcher BT TV News

Writer: Chris Lang
Director: Andy Wilson
Starring: Nicola Walker, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Sheila Hancock, Susan Lynch, Phaldut Sharma, Liz White, Andy Nyman, Clare Calbraith, Lucy Speed
Production company: Mainstreet Pictures
Kent Locations Used: Rochester City, Rochester Cathedral, Medway Rowing Club, Strood

Unforgotten (2021) is a murder mystery series set in London, that follows two detectives, DCI Cassie Stuart (Nicola Walker) and DI Sunny Khan (Sanjeev Bhaskar) as they investigate and attempt to unravel unsolved crimes. Series 4 kicks off with the discovery of a thirty-year-old corpse, the perfect cold case for the detectives to solve.

Series Four was once again written by award winning Chris Lang (Innocent, A Mother’s Son) and directed by Andy Wilson (Cracker). It stars Nicola Walker (Spooks, Four Weddings and a Funeral) as DCI Cassie Stuart and Sanjeev Bhaskar (Yesterday, Absolutely Anything) as DI Sunny Khan. Co-stars are set to include Sheila Hancock (The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas), Susan Lynch (Killing Eve), Phaldut Sharma (EastEnders) and Andy Nyman (Judy).

Filming took place in historic Rochester City, featuring Rochester Cathedral. Another feature filmed in the city at the Royal Victoria & Bull Hotel was Last Orders (2002). Standing above the River Medway, in the centre of the city,  Rochester castle  has featured in Bollywood feature, Veer (2010) and the Dicken’s adaptation of The Mystery of Edwin Drood (2012).

The production also visited neighbouring Strood, across the River Medway, a popular location for those who enjoy water sports, fishing or even a boat trip along the river.

Series 4 of Unforgotten aired on ITV on Monday 22nd February 2021.

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

Brave New World (2020)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Actor Alden Ehrenreicht touching actress Lara Peake’s pregnant stomach. She is dressed in a wedding dress

Brave New World – Alden Ehrenreich and Lara Peake © NBC


Directors: Owen Harris, Aoife McArdle, Andrij Parekh, Craig Zisk
Writers: David Wiener, Grant Morrison, Brian Taylor, Aldous Huxley (novel)
Starring: Stuart Walker, Jeanie Hackman, Summer-Joules
Production Company: Amblin Television, NBC Universal Content Studios
Kent Locations Used: Dungeness Estate and Old Lifeboat Station, Dungeness, Lydd Camp

Brave New World (2020) is a new eight part TV series is an adaptation of Aldous Huxley’s dystopian novel of the same name. It is set in America 200 or 300 years from now and explores the lives of two citizens who decide to explore life beyond the strictures of their society by travelling to the ‘Savage Lands’ where they become entangled in a violent rebellion.

The screenplay was co-written by David Wiener (Flesh and Bone, Fear the Walking Dead), Grant Morrison (Happy!, Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay) and Brian Taylor (Mom and Dad, Crank).

Brave New World was directed by a collaboration of directors Owen Harris (Black Mirror, Troy: Fall of a City ), Aoife McArdle (Kissing Candice), Andrij Parekh (Watchmen, The Zookeeper’s Wife ), Craig Zisk (The Looming Tower, Brooklyn Nine-Nine) and produced by Chloe Moss (Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones , The Letter for the King ).

The series stars Alden Ehrenreich (Solo: A Star Wars Story, Hail, Caesar!), Harry Lloyd (The Theory of Everything, Jane Eyre) and Kylie Bunbury (When They See Us, Tut). Demi Moore (Corporate Animals,  G.I. Jane) also stars in the series.

Production visited Kent which features as part of the Savage Lands, including Lydd Camp and Dungeness Estate. The Old Lifeboat Station there doubles as John and Linda’s house.

Dungeness Estate is a unique location which includes ramshackle huts as well as two lighthouses, an historic railway station, two pubs and artist galleries along with a nuclear power station. Dungeness has a derelict look to some of the areas making for an ideal location to film a dystopian series. The Old Lifeboat Station is a Historic Grade II listed building recently celebrating its centenary. This imposing building is almost 46 metres high to the top of the weathervane and is constructed of engineering bricks with sandstone inner walls.

Lydd camp is located near to Dungeness and is an MOD firing range. Previous projects that have filmed at Dungeness include Ginger and Rosa (2012) and Back to Life – Series 1 (2019).

All eight episodes of Brave New World will be released on Sky on Friday 2nd October 2020.

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

Black Earth Rising (2018)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Black Earth Rising Series Poster Image- main character in a dress staring up at the sky on a dirt track with foliage either side.

Black Earth Rising Series ©BBC Two

Writer: Hugo Blick

Director: Hugo Blick

Starring: Aure Atika, Abena Ayivor, Martin Bassindale

Production Company: Drama Republic BBC, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Drama Republic

Kent Locations Used: Sevenoaks

Black Earth Rising is an upcoming television drama series written and directed by Hugo Blick , who has written and directed this poignant new drama, tackling issues such as the relationship between contemporary Africa and the West and the prosecution of international war crimes.

Starring Aure Atika (In and Night, The night manager) as Sophie Barre, Abena Ayivor (Machine Gun Preacher, The dinosaur Project) as Bibi Mundanzi, Martin Bassindale (Holmes and Watson, Endeavour) as Peter.

The production visited  a private residence in Sevenoaks whose swimming pool doubled for a Spa hotel in Paris. Sevenoaks has been a popular filming location and previously featured in BBC’s popular ‘Who Do You Think You Are’ in 2014, the latest series of Vanity Fair in 2018, and Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year in 2017.

The six part series will air on Monday 10th September 2018 at 9pm on BBC Two.

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

The Last Word Monologues (2008)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Three cast members standing posing for the camera against a black background. The women in the centre is wearing a blue jumper, the men either side of her are wearing dark clothes.

The Last Word Monologues ©BBC

 

Writer: Hugo Blick

Director: Hugo Blick

Starring: Bob Hoskins, Rhys Ifans and Sheila Hancock

Production Company: BBC Worldwide Ltd

Kent Locations Used: Puxtye Farm, Sandhurst

The Last Word Monologues is a comedy drama series depicting the lives of three different people which only have one thing in common: they are about to kill or be killed.

The dying woman who wants euthanasia is portrayed by Sheila Hancock (The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, Carry on Cleo, Bedtime). A man named Hugh who desperately wants to be free from his over bearing mother will be played by Rhys Ifans (The Amazing Spider-Man, Notting Hill, Snowden). An assassin who is waiting for a target in a lavatory is played by Bob Hoskins (Snow White and the Huntsman, The Long Good Friday, Who Framed Roger Rabbit). This series is written, produced and directed by Hugo Blick (The Honourable Woman, The Shadow Line, Sensitive Skin).

The Last Word Monologues features the Kentish location of Puxtye Farm in Tunbridge Wells.

Puxtye Farm has an Oast house and barn, both of which are listed as historical properties with Historic England. The Oast house offers a simplistic setting inducing a feeling of isolation within the quietness of the house and area. The barn has a rustic feel with it being filled with farm equipment; which is perfect for a character of a farmer to be placed.

The Last Word Monologues TV series was broadcast from Monday 25th August 2008 on BBC One.The episode ‘Six Days One June’ featuring the Kent locations aired on Tuesday 26th August 2008.

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

The Saint – Season 5 (1967)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Roger Moore as The Saint sits behind the wheel of a vintage racing car. He is in a grey jumpsuit and wears a black helmet with a white vizor, grey goggles and white gloves.

Roger Moore as the Saint in “The Fast Women” © ITC

Director: Leslie Norman
Writer: Leslie Charteris, Leigh Vance
Starring: Roger Moore, Jan Holden, John Carson, Kate O’Mara
Production Company: Bamore, Incorporated Television Company (ITC)
Kent Locations Used: Brands Hatch

The Saint (1962-1969) is an ITV spy thriller series following Simon (The Saint) Templar, a wealthy adventurer who travels the world solving mysteries. Season 5 Episode 16, The Fast Women, sees the Saint at Brands Hatch racing circuit, where he meets famous racing rivals Cynthia Quillen and Teresa Montesino, who both have plans to assassinate the other.

The episode is written by Leslie Charteris (The Saint (1997), The Saint’s Double Trouble) and Leigh Vance (The Black Windmill (1974), Mission: Impossible) and directed by Leslie Norman (Dunkirk (1958), X the Unknown). The episode stars Roger Moore (The Carer (2016), Moonraker) as Simon Templar “The Saint”, Jan Holden (Casanova ’73, Agony) as racing driver Cynthia Quillen, John Carson (Doomsday, Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter) as her cheating husband Godfrey Quillen, and Kate O’Mara (The Vampire Lovers, Doctor Who) as her racing rival Teresa Montesino.

Episode 16 is set at Brands Hatch in Fawkham, Sevenoaks and filming took place on the racing circuit and in the pits.

Brands Hatch is a motor racing circuit with views across almost the entire Indy Circuit. Surrounded by woodland, the site also contains a rally course and off-road 4×4 course which are available for filming. Other productions to have filmed there include Grand Prix (1966), CI5 The New Professionals (1999) and Rush (2013).

The Saint first aired on ITV between 1962 and 1969. Season 5 Episode 16, The Fast Women, aired Friday 13th January 1967. Seasons 5 and 6 are available to stream on ITVX.

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