| Kingdom is set in the fictional town of
Market Shipborough and features country solicitor Peter Kingdom.
Each week he attempts to deal with an assortment of
eccentric clients aided and abetted by his assistant
Lyle - played by Karl Davies. Peter Kingdom's life is
also complicated by his disreputable, missing brother (Simon)
and by his needy, pregnant sister (Beatrice). It is
Stephen Fry's first ITV drama since Jeeves and
Wooster in 1993.
Holkham Beach from
Wells
The
series was shot almost entirely on location in Norfolk and
Stephen Fry describes the appeal of the show as follows:
'Kingdom does promise viewers a glimpse of the locations
I love, and an hour in front of the television that will
wash them in colours, textures, landscapes and
characters that delight.' The show was created by Simon
Wheeler and written by Jeff Povey and Alan Whiting.
The centre of
Swaffham features extensively in
most episodes - namely the market place, the 18th century
Butter Cross (which Kingdom usually drives past in his Alvis TE 21) and Oakleigh House which is transformed
into his office. The Swaffham town sign - which depicts
the famous pedlar John Chapman - is also transformed to
become the Market Shipborough sign. The Greyhound pub
becomes The Startled Duck and in one episode a Break
Charity Shop even became Tiger Lily's Sex Shop. The
Ecotech wind turbine is also visible is most episodes.
Swaffham actually lies about 20 miles from the coast
- but a sound track featuring sea gulls gives the
impression that it is by the sea. The shots of the harbour
and quayside are filmed at
Wells-next-the-Sea in North Norfolk. The spectacular
beach scenes are shot at
Holkham.
Swaffham has benefited from the 'Kingdom effect' due
to increased tourism and also from money pumped into
the local economy by the filmmakers.
The series has also used other Norfolk locations including:
Happisburgh Lighthouse,
Little Snoring Airfield,
Hunstanton, RAF Marham, Scroby Sands wind farm,
Dereham, the
Norfolk Broads, Cockley Cley Hall
(Aunt Auriel's house) Bintree Mill, Great Massingham and Thetford.
In many ways Kingdom is classic Sunday
evening entertainment - portraying likeable
characters in a picturesque setting - in the tradition
of shows such as Last of the Summer
Wine, Heartbeat or All Creatures Great and
Small. Screen East assisted
the filmmakers of Kingdom with locations, crew
and facilities and Kerry Ixer (Head of Locations) said:
' This is a fantastic film industry showcase for Norfolk
combining the county's great beauty, local skilled
workforce and film-friendliness.'
|
Supported
by Norfolk Tourism