Whitstable Pearl (2021-2022)

Kerry Godliman as restaurant owner Pearl Nolan is centre of the image wearing a green top and blue apron. She has blonde hair and behind her is a pebble beach with boats and fishing huts

Whitstable Pearl stars Kerry Godliman as restaurant owner Pearl Nolan © Acorn TV

Creator: Julie Wassmer
Starring: Kerry Godliman, Howard Charles, Sophia Del Pizzo, Frances Barber
Production Company: Buccaneer Media
Kent Locations Used: Whitstable, Canterbury, Faversham, Herne Bay, Margate, Ramsgate, Detling, Dover, Sevenoaks, Rochester

Based on the much loved series of novels ‘The Whitstable Pearl Mysteries’ by Kent resident Julie Wassmer (EastEnders, London’s Burning), Whitstable Pearl (2021-2022) is a detective series for Acorn TV. The story follows big-hearted local restaurant owner Pearl Nolan (Kerry Godliman) who sets up a local detective agency after undergoing police training in an earlier career. She is soon embroiled in her first case when she discovers the body of close friend, Vinnie. Pearl forms an unlikely partnership with DCI Mike McGuire (Howard Charles) and finds herself pulled into the dark underbelly of the picturesque town she calls home.

Whitstable Pearl was adapted for screen by Norwegian filmmaker Øystein Karlsen (One Night, Dag). Kerry Godliman (After Life, Call the Midwife (2012-2023)) headlines the show as Pearl Nolan alongside Howard Charles as DCI Mike McGuire (Shadow and Bone, Liar Series 2 (2020))and Frances Barber (Cold Feet, Queens of Mystery (2020-2021)) as Pearl’s mum Dolly.

A woman with red hair and a black hat (Frances Barber as Dolly) walks along the sea shore with a woman wearing a black coat carrying a box (Kerry Godliman as Pearl Nolan). In the distance is the shoreline with houses and a beach

Frances Barber as Pearl’s mother Dolly (left) and Kerry Godliman as Pearl Nolan © Mark Bourdillon / Acorn TV

For both Series 1 and 2, most of the filming took place in and around Whitstable itself, including scenes filmed by the coast at Whitstable Harbour, Whitstable Beach, Whitstable Yacht Club and Tankerton Beach. In Series 1, Whitstable High Street features and local shops were filmed including Iain’s Plaice (fish and chip restaurant) and art gallery Chappell Contemporary as Houlihan’s Hardware store. Other Whitstable businesses filmed for Series 1 include the Cemetery, Football Ground, MFA Bowl and Seaview Holiday Park, which features as the trailer park where Vinnie lives. Several private residences were used for filming, including Beacon House as Pearl’s House for Series 1, the exterior of The Ness as Mike’s Flat in Series 2 Episode 2, The Warehouse Cottages for the same episode, and various private residences on Island Wall for Series 2 Eps 1 and 2. Filming took place at The Old Neptune pub, which doubled as the Pearson’s Arms for both series. Whitstable train station also features briefly in Series 2 Ep 2 as Pearl trails a suspected cheating spouse.

The Kent Events Centre was used as a studio build location in Series 1 for interiors of Pearl’s seafood restaurant.

Meanwhile, Margate in Thanet features in both series with Margate Beach and The Walpole Hotel doubling for Whitstable seaside scenes in Series 1, Dreamland and the Nayland Rock Hotel featuring in Series 2 as a theme park and The Bradford Hotel. For Series 1, production also filmed at St Peter’s Roman Catholic Church on Canterbury Road in nearby Westgate-on-Sea. The Port of Ramsgate and Royal Harbour Marina double for the Port of Dover cruise terminal and Dover Marina in Series 1.

Dover features multiple times in Series 2, with locations such as The White Cliffs, Port of Dover, Lydden Spout Battery and Western Heights making an appearance in Episode 1, along with various nearby roads. The Citadel also appears in both series, doubling as a police station. The Citadel also features in Series 1 as a children’s home, and in Series 2 Episode 1 the location’s tunnels feature as the setting for the dramatic confrontation between Kruz Tomlin (Yaw Nimako-Asamoah) and his stepfather Leo (Oliver Walker).

For Series 2, production also visited various locations in Sevenoaks, including a private house which doubled as Dolly’s House, Stonepitts PYO Farm and the St Clere Estate which doubles as Zelda St John’s (Stephanie Beacham) mansion.

Rochester High Street in Medway appears in Series 2, with local businesses Baggin’s Book Bazaar, Kiss the Bride and a former Estate Agents featuring in Episodes 2 and 3.

Interior scenes for Series 1 were filmed at the former St Martin’s Hospital in Canterbury doubling as a police station and a hospital. Other filming locations for Series 1 include a field near Faversham at Belmont Park and private residence in Herne Bay.

Whitstable is a 16th century thriving seaside resort in Kent. Known for its native oysters, Whitstable boasts a working fishing harbour, shingle beach and busy high street. Recent productions to film in the town include The Great Pottery Throw Down – Series 3 (2020) and The Thames: Britain’s Great River With Tony Robinson (2019).

Beacon House is a colonial clapboard wooden turn of the century Beach House.  Set above beach on a private sea road, the grounds include wild woodland gardens and views out to sea and lines of beach huts. Catastrophe Series 4 (2019) filmed at this location.

The Kent Events Centre based in Detling is the largest, most flexible conference and exhibition venue in Kent, offering 7,000 sqm of indoor space available to film productions as studio space and 200 acres of outdoor space.

Margate is a traditional seaside town complete with sandy beach, harbour, amusement park, period housing and ultra-modern art gallery Turner Contemporary. The Walpole Hotel was built for discerning guests in 1914 and extended in 1927.  Built over 5 floors it has 42 Bedrooms, 2 flats and a newly added small museum space. Dreamland is considered to be the oldest-surviving amusement park in Great Britain, and has played host to a variety of productions, including Killing Eve (2018-2022), Two Weeks to Live (2020) and Jellyfish (2018). Located nearby, The Nayland Rock Hotel also featured in Killing Eve (2018-2022), as well as King of Thieves (2018).

Westgate-on-Sea is a charming Victorian town, steeped in Heritage with quaint shops and two fantastic blue flag beaches. Margate is popular as a film locations with recent productions including Two Weeks to Live (2020), Pandemonium (2020) and Top Boy (2019-2022).

The Port of Ramsgate offers 32 acres of dedicated Port Land including 3 modern Ro-Ro bridges and Water and bunker facilities on all berths. It is often used as ‘stand-in’ for the Port of Dover. Royal Harbour Marina offers 700 finger moorings set in a picturesque and historic harbour setting. Crime dramas to previously film at the Port of Ramsgate include The Tunnel: Vengeance (2017) and Baptiste (2019).

Dover houses the major port, connecting the UK with the European mainland. Dover Castle towers above the town, signalling Dover’s strategic importance in the defence of the country and the White Cliffs are one of the most recognised landmarks in Britain. Recent productions to have filmed in Dover include Pistol (2022), Rogue Agent (2022), and The Tunnel: Sabotage (2016).

The Citadel, located on Dover‘s Western Heights was constructed in the late 1700’s as a port of defence during the Napoleonic war. Most recently it has been used as a borstal, prison, and immigration detention centre up until its closure in 2015. It is now becoming popular as a filming location and has welcomed several productions over the past year – soon to broadcast.

The town of Sevenoaks has a varied landscape, featuring a bustling high street, stately homes and castles as well as beautiful countryside. Located in that countryside is the St Clere Estate, which offers stunning views of the North Downs, formal gardens, paddocks, a kitchen garden, orangery, green houses, and a temple by the lake. Built in 1630, it has some fine architectural examples of the Caroline era. It has recently played host to a variety of productions including The Great (2020-2023), Gangs of London (2020-2022) and The Third Day (2020).

Rochester is a city with the feel of a medieval market town, including a cathedral, castle ruin and unspoilt high street by the River Medway. Other productions to have filmed in Rochester include Unforgotten (2021), Jekyll and Hyde (2015) and The Mystery of Edwin Drood (2012).

Herne Bay is a coastal resort popular for filming along the Kent coast. Kate & Koji (2020-2022) is a recent production to film here. Faversham is a beautiful historic market town set on Faversham Creek. TV productions to film in the area include Hetty Feather Series 1 – 6 (2015 – 2020) and Celebrity Antiques Road Show – Series 8 (2018).

St Martin’s Hospital is a large building on the outskirts of busy Canterbury town centre. It has hosted filming for crime drama The Tunnel: Sabotage (2016) and The Tunnel: Vengeance (2017).

Series 1 of Whitstable Pearl was released on Acorn TV on Monday 24th May 2021.

Whitstable Pearl Series 2 will be released as a box set on Acorn TV on Monday 28th November 2022.

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


Flirty Dancing – Series 2 (2019)

Pictured are Kerry in a red dress and Jordan in a white top embracing by a bench in a park.

Pictured: Kerry and Jordan (Copyright – Channel 4)

Starring: Ashley Banjo
Production Company: Second Star production
Kent Locations Used: Whitstable, Dartford and Hythe

The objective of reality show Flirty Dancing (2019-), is to help people find a romantic partner through the art of dance. Each episode features two pairs of singletons, both will be taught one half of a choreographed dance routine; eventually meeting up for a date where they perform together.

The presenter of the show is Ashely Banjo (StreetDance 3D, Got to Dance) who also choreographs the dances.

In the second series, there will be various Kent locations featuring local contributors. Production filmed with contributors around various streets in Whitstable and Tankerton beach, Dartford including Central Park, as well as Hythe town centre and the Royal Military Canal.

Whitstable is a bohemian seaside town which was famous for its oysters and is now famous for the harbour where sunbathing, swimming and water sports are popular including jet skiing. Furthermore, it has one of the oldest yacht clubs. Previous filming here includes Who Do You Think You Are? (2018) and The Apprentice (2015).

Dartford town centre lies in a valley through which River Darent flows. Dartford became a market town in medieval times and is now mainly a commuter town for Greater London. However, it does have a long history of religious, industrial and cultural importance. Previous filming here includes Who Do You Think You Are? (2014) and Don’t Tell the Bride (2013).

Hythe is a coastal market town in the district of Folkestone & Hythe. The town has medieval and Georgian buildings and was once defended by two castles; it has a lot of sporting activities to do such as horse riding, bowling, tennis and many more. Previous filming includes Celebs on the Farm (2018).

Series 2 is due to start at 8pm on Channel 4 from Friday 8th November 2019.

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


Interior Design Masters (2019)

Picture Shows: Backrow (L) to (R) Cassie Nicholas, Jim Biddulph, Verity Coleman, Frank Newbold, Nicki Bamford-Bowes all standing at the back of a bricked room with blue pictures on the wall. Front row (L) to (R) Trish Coggans, Terian Tilston, Jerome Gardner, Kyle Broughton-Frew and Ju De Paula sitting on sofas looking into the camera.

©BBC / DSP / Tom Scott

Presenter: Fearne Cotton
Starring: Michelle Ogundehin, Mary Portas, Jade Jagger, Matthew Williamson
Production Company: Darlow Smithson Productions / Endemol Shine
Kent Locations Used: Whitstable

On Interior Design Masters (2019-), ten designers take on different design projects and compete with each other to gain a commission with a client for a job.

Among the contestants is Jim Biddulph, 32, from Margate. He left a previous job as a design writer to pursue his new career which was 10 years in the making and seized the opportunity to be involved in the programme. Fellow contestant Frank Newbold also boasts Kent connections as he previously lived in Rochester.

The guest judges on Interior Design Masters are Michelle Ogundehin (The Great Interior Design Challenge), Mary Portas (Hotel GB, Mary Portas: Secret Shopper), Jade Jagger (Gomorron, Divendres) and Matthew Williamson. Presenting is Fearne Cotton (Celebrity Juice, Lemon La Vida Loca).

In Episode 7 , the semi final, the three remaining candidates are asked to each remodel a hairdressers in Whitstable High Street. Guest judge Lawrence Llewelyn-Bowen will help to decide whether the classic look of Len’s Barber Shop, the futuristic theme of Jelly Beanz or the industrial remodel of Edge is good enough to get the designer to the final.

Whitstable is on the north coast of Kent. The town is famous for its oysters, celebrated during the famous Oyster Festival during the summer.

The series was created by BBC 2 and Netflix, consisting of eight episodes.

Episode One of Interior Design Masters will be shown on BBC Two on Wednesday 14th August 2019 at 8pm on BBC2.

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


Catastrophe Series 4 (2019)

Sharon (Sharon Horgan) and Rob (Rob Delaney) cast from the series. The two are sitting on a rock by the side of the road, looking up to the sky.

Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney ©Channel 4

Writers: Rob Delaney and Sharon Horgan
Director: Ben Taylor
Starring: Sharon Horgan, Rob Delaney, Mark Bonnar, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Chris Noth
Production Company: Avalon Television
Kent Locations Used: Whitstable, Royal Tunbridge Wells

Catastrophe (2015-2019), Channel 4’s popular comedy series,  follows the lives of American Rob (Rob Delaney) and Sharon (Sharon Horgan) his Irish wife from Ireland who first met on a business trip to London. The latest series catches up with them four years after they first met as Rob tackles his alcoholism and we see its impact on their relationship. It also includes the fictional funeral of Mia (Carrie Fisher), Rob’s mother as actress Carrie Fisher who sadly passed away after the filming of Series 3.

Starring Sharon Horgan (Game Night, Moone Boy) as Sharon Morris, Rob Delaney (Deadpool 2, Action Team) as Rob Norris, Mark Bonnar (Shetland, Take Down) as Chris, and guest starring Julie Hesmondhalgh (Coronation Street, Broadchurch) and Chris Noth (Sex and the City, Tyrant).

Filming for Mia’s funeral took place at Beacon House in the seaside town of Whitstable, which doubled as a house in Boston. The house is situated above a natural promontory, called The Street, which stretches out to sea for about half a mile. Another location used in Whitstable was The Lobster Shack, which is located at the edge of the harbour with stunning sea views.  Whitstable is a popular filming location and previous productions include Wayfaring Stranger (2008), The Things I Haven’t Told You (2008), and Mr Turner (2014).

The Pantiles in Royal Tunbridge Wells also featured in the new series and doubled as Boston. This area with shops, bars and live music offers a great shopping experience. The buildings, some of which are over 400 years old, still have some original features, though the overall impression is of a Georgian terrace that plays host to events from farmers markets to live Jazz and Christmas fairs. Royal Tunbridge Wells is credited in films and TV series such as The Royals Season 4 (2018).

Catastrophe began airing on Channel 4 on Monday 7th January 2019 .

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


Celebrity Antiques Road Show – Series 8 (2018)

Cast of Celebrity Antiques Road Show - Series 8- Four celebritites standing in a row holding up various antiques.

Cast of Celebrity Antiques Road Show – Series 8 ©BBC Two

Starring: Kelly Brook, Denise Van Outen and Peter Andre
Production Company: STV productions
Kent Locations Used: Ramsgate, Margate, Whitstable, Faversham, Sittingbourne, Maidstone, and Ashford

A brand-new series of Celebrity Antiques Road Show (2011-) returns to BBC two.  In the programme each antique expert is paired up with a celebrity and they travel across the UK in vintage cars, in a quest to find worthy antiques to sell at auction.

The series producer for the upcoming show is John Redshaw, and the chosen stars for Series 8 include reality-star Peter Andre, actress Denise Van Outen and model Kelly Brook.

One of the episodes visited Kent where the celebrities played mini-golf in Margate, went antiques hunting in  the sea-side town of Ramsgate and paid a visit to Leeds Castle and Pleasant View Garden Centre in Maidstone, and Whitstable Harbour in Canterbury.

Filming also took place in Faversham and Sittingbourne, which are towns in the district of Swale, as well as further filming in villages Appledore and Chilham in Ashford.

Ramsgate, Margate and Whitstable are seaside towns in East-Kent.  Ramsgate has been a significant filming location for popular television shows such as Juliet, Naked(2018), EastEnders (2015) and The Apprentice (2015).

Faversham and Sittingbourne are both towns within the Swale borough of Kent. Previous productions which filmed there include Celebs on the Farm (2018) and Walks With My Dog (2017).

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. Previous productions which filmed include The Apprentice (2015).

Maidstone has been a popular site for TV programmes, productions include Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace (2020). Tunbridge Wells has also been an attractive location for TV programmes like Question Time (2016) and Series Two of Hunted (2016).

The series will start on Monday 5th November on BBC Two at 7pm with the Kent episode.

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


Zoe and the Astronaut (2018)

Zoe and the Astronaut Film poster depicting close up, side profile shot of a Max Scully as the Astronaut and Kirsten Foster as Zoe looking out to sea. Zoe and the astronaut reads in blue in the centre

Zoe and the Astronaut official film poster © Sahara Road

Writer: Eke Chukwu
Director: Eke Chukwu
Starring: Kirsten Foster, Ian Reddington, Lisa Moorish, Max Scully
Production Company: Independent Film
Kent Locations Used: Tankerton Beach, Whitstable

A gripping combination of romance and sci-fi, Zoe and the Astronaut tells the heart-warming story of a Leukaemia patient, who sees a space pod crash in a field near her home and inside is a young astronaut. She uses her last days showing him the beauty of life on Earth.

Eke Chukwu (Hood, London Virgin) wrote, directed and produced Zoe and the Astronaut. Kirsten Foster (Lewis, Jekyll & Hyde (2015)), Max Scully (Blood on Canvas, Ginger & Rosa (2012)), Lisa Moorish (Murder in Mind, Vote Debra Gray) and Ian Reddington (Highlander, The Sisters Brothers) star in this independent film.

Filming took place on Tankerton Beach for the final sequence of the film. Tankerton Beach is a shingle beach with wooden beach huts along the coastline, as well as the grassy slopes that run alongside the shingles. There is a sailing club, and a skate park facing the beach, as well as phenomenal views. At a low tide, a walkway known as ‘The Street’ is revealed going out towards the sea. Productions to have filmed at Tankerton Beach include Britain at Low Tide – Series 3 (2019) and Kathy Burke’s All Woman (2019).

Zoe and the Astronaut was released on the 4th May 2018.

For more information about Kent’s filming history, please visit out Movie Map.

 


The Apprentice (2015)

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. 

 

 

 


Terry and Mason’s Great Food Trip (2015)

Terry Wogan sat outside on a table with food in front of him, Mason McQueen is stood up next to him with his arm on his shoulder. Countryside can be seen in the background.

(L-R) Mason McQueen, Terry Wogan © BBC/Curve Media Ltd

Production Company: Curve Media

Kent Locations Used: Canterbury – Cathedral, The Goods Shed and Kent County Cricket ground, Whitstable, Tunbridge Wells – Penshurst Place, The Pantiles, Rosemary Shrager’s Cookery School,  Chiddingstone

Television royalty, Sir Terry Wogan, and London Cabbie, Mason McQueen (A Cabbie Abroad), join forces to embark on the foodie’s ultimate adventure around the UK. Along the way, they check out the weird and wonderful British cuisine and look at how tastes have changed.

The 20 part series has taken its inspiration from the 1963 book, British Bouquet: An Epicurean Tour of Britain, by Samuel Chamberlain. Wogan and McQueen set off in Chamberlain’s footstep in search of the great British foods of today and exploring their social history. Sampling the foods mentioned in the book, they compare ‘then and now’ and piece together their evolution from all the knowledge preserved by the local people they meet.

Episode five focuses on Canterbury when the pair visit Canterbury Cathedral, The Goods Shed and Kent County Cricket ground. They also head to Whitstable, to sample local Oysters and Whelks and soak up the atmosphere of the working harbour and fishery before heading to The Sportsman, Seasalter’s local gastropub with a Michelin Star.

Episode nine sees the duo visit the historic town of Chiddingstone, where they sample the local Kentish ales at Larkins Brewery and The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells and Rosemary Shrager’s Cookery School before heading to Penshurst Place.

Mason McQueen, Rosemary Shrager, Terry Wogan at Rosemary's cooking school behind a counter of food

L-R – Mason McQueen, Rosemary Shrager, Terry Wogan at Rosemary’s cooking school © BBC/Curve Media Ltd

Mason McQueen, Philip Sidney and Terry Wogan at Penshurst Place sat on a round table with food

Mason McQueen, Philip Sidney and Terry Wogan at Penshurst Place © BBC/Curve Media Ltd

Canterbury is a vibrant City which boasts a Cathedral, busy shopping areas, parks and open spaces. Nearby is the seaside town of Whitstable which has a strong arts and culture scene and offers a harbour, shingle beach and busy high street.  The area has previously featured on productions such A Canterbury Tale (1944).

Chiddingstone is a one-street Tudor village and has previously been used as a film location by productions such as A Room With A View (1986) and Elizabeth R (1971).

Tunbridge Wells is a large town situated in West Kent with a busy town centre and a period shopping area, The Pantiles,  offering a fascinating variety of small specialist shops, antique shops, open-air cafés, restaurants and bars. Previous productions that have been filmed in Tunbridge Wells include Britain’s Best Bakery (2012).

Penshurst Place is a Medieval and Tudor style manor house set in gorgeous parkland with formal Elizabethan gardens. Penshurst Place is a popular film location, having previously welcomed productions such as Wolf Hall (2015), The Great Fire (2014) and The Other Boleyn Girl (2008).

Catch the Canterbury episode on Friday 4th September on BBC Two at 18:30 and the Tunbridge Wells episode on Thursday 10th September on BBC Two at 18:30.

 

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


Still Life (2013)

Eddie Marsan as John May stands on a concrete grey tiled pavement looking upwards. He wears a white shirt, grey knitted vest, black spotted tie and a black trench coat. He holds a brown leather bag.

Eddie Marsan in Still Life (2013) © Beta Cinema

Director / Writer: Uberto Pasolini
Starring:
Eddie Marsan, Joanne Froggatt
Production Company:
Redwave Films, Embargo Films, Beta Cinema, Cinecittà, Exponential Media, RAI Radiotelevisione Italiana
Kent Locations Used:
Whitstable, Herne Bay

Still Life (2013) follows council case worker John May as he looks for the relatives of those who died with no known family.

Written and directed by Uberto Pasolini (The Full Monty, Nowhere Special), Still Life stars Eddie Marsan (Deceit (2021), Southcliffe (2013)) as John May, with Joanne Froggatt (Liar (2017-2020), Downton Abbey (2013)) in a supporting role as Kelly Stoke.

Production visited Whitstable and Herne Bay to film a scene set on Whitby seafront where John May is searching for the family of a recently departed man. Local businesses V.C Jones and Mr Chips Fish Bar in Whitstable briefly feature in John’s search.

Whitstable is a thriving seaside town with working fishing harbour, shingle beach and a bustling high street. Other productions to have filmed there include Tipping the Velvet (2002), Venus (2007) and Gangsters, Guns and Zombies (2012).

Herne Bay is a coastal resort which is home to the world’s first free-standing purpose-built clock tower. Series 1 of Big Bad World (2013), Series 1 & 2 of Boomers (2014-2016), and Heartstopper (2022) all filmed in Herne Bay.

Still Life (2013) debuted at Edinburgh International Film Festival on Wednesday 25th June 2014 and is available to watch on ITVX and Amazon Prime.

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


Ade at Sea (2014)

Ade standing on a fishing boat with the sea and other boats behind

Ade at Sea © ITV

Production Company: ITV Studios

Kent Locations used: Thames Estuary – Redsand Forts, Whitstable Harbour, The Historic Dockyard Chatham

ITV’s new 5 part series, Ade at Sea, sees actor and presenter Ade Edmondson set sail to explore the history of Maritime Britain and meet people whose lives are still influenced by the sea today.

In the second episode of the series, Ade travels along the Thames Estuary visiting Kent locations such as The Historic Dockyard Chatham, Whitstable Harbour and Redsand Forts, also known as The Maunsell Forts.

With its cobbled streets, Georgian and Victorian architecture and period features spread across 80 acres, The Historic Dockyard Chatham is a popular filming location having been seen on screen in productions such as Mr Selfridge (2013-2014), Les Miserables (2012) and The Mummy (1999).

Whitstable is a seaside town near Canterbury and is famous for its annual Oyster Festival as well as the delightful harbour, shingle beach, busy high street and strong arts and culture scene.  Whitstable has been previously seen on screen in productions such as Things I Haven’t Told You (2008).   

The Redsand Forts are metal and concrete structures which were built as bombing defences during the Second World War and are located 6 miles out into the Thames Estuary off the coast of Whitstable. They have previously been used on screen for projects such as a Prodigy music video and a Red Bull challenge!

Don’t miss the Thames Estuary episode of Ade at Sea which airs on Thursday 27th March 2014 at 20:30 on ITV1.

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