KENT SEASIDE TOWN TURNS DYSTOPIAN FOR FILMING OF NEW BBC DRAMA

Walking along the Margate seafront these days, you would be forgiven for thinking you had stepped through a time portal to a bleak, but not too distant future. That is because the thriving Thanet town has been somewhat transformed while the filming of a new BBC drama takes place.

The Dream Lands is an upcoming six-part series based on Ramsgate author Rosa Rankin-Gee's gripping novel Dreamland. Set in the year 2039, the story follows Chance, a young woman navigating the throes of early adulthood while trying to survive a crumbling world.

In this dystopian vision of the near future, temperatures are rising, sea levels are at an all time high, while the waters themselves have turned toxic. Marine Drive and Margate Sands have seen a Mad Max-esque makeover this week as shooting for the production continues, which is due to wrap up on Saturday, May 10.

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Cast members and extras have been spotted around the town in costume, including some in full military uniforms. The Dream Lands stars Pascale Kann as Chance, alongside Anna Friel, Connor Swindells, Clara Rugaard and Katherine Parkinson.

This TV adaptation is being produced by SISTER, which also worked on Gangs of London and This is Going to Hurt. The series is to be released on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, likely some time before the end of 2025, though an exact date has not been confirmed.

While filming takes place, 24-hour security will be in operation at the sets, with a large police presence spotted at the seafront this week while shoots took place on the beach. Notices have been displayed near the filming locations advising members of the public of the production.

One such notice reads: “If you enter the area you may be captured on film. The footage may be made publicly available, worldwide, in any media as part of the production and promoting those productions.

“By entering this area you will be deemed to agree with this. If you do not want to be filmed, please do not enter this area.”

Kayleigh Llewellyn, writer and executive producer, said: “Telling stories I care about alongside a team of women I admire is the very reason I do this job, so working on The Dream Lands has been a gift. It’s an honour to be adapting Rosa Rankin-Gee’s beautiful, searing words for the screen.

“Especially as it’s given me an excuse to collaborate once more with my old friend, the supremely talented, Lucy Forbes. And I’m so thrilled we’ve found a home with the BBC, who support artists’ visions like no one else.”

Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama added: ‘With an amazing protagonist at its heart, Chance, who’s raw, funny and fiercely loyal, The Dream Lands is a vivid, searing thrill ride fuelled by hope, love and an innate desire to survive. I’m really excited to have Kayleigh Llewellyn back writing for the BBC collaborating once more alongside Lucy Forbes and the team at SISTER.”

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2025-05-02T10:22:53Z