Production history
How Kingdom was made
The writers, directors, production choices and Norfolk locations behind the programme.
The shape of the series
Kingdom ran for three six-episode series between 2007 and 2009. Simon Wheeler created the programme around Stephen Fry as a humane Norfolk solicitor; the British Comedy Guide also credits Alan Whiting as co-creator.
Norfolk as more than a backdrop
Swaffham supplied the production’s civic centre, while Wells-next-the-Sea and Holkham supplied harbour and beach geography. By the end of series-two filming, a historical report estimated that Parallel had invested approximately £2.5 million in the local economy.
Production chronology
July 2006
Filming for series one began, with roughly twelve weeks scheduled and Swaffham at the centre of production.
July–September 2007
Series two filmed in two directing blocks under Andrew Grieve and Edward Hall.
July–September 2008
Series three filmed, with production activity at Holkham and locations outside Norfolk used for the Stockport story.
9 October 2009
Stephen Fry announced that ITV would not commission a fourth series, leaving the final family revelation unresolved.
Principal production credits
- Creators
- Simon Wheeler; Alan Whiting is also credited as co-creator by the British Comedy Guide
- Producer
- Georgina Lowe
- Executive producers
- Stephen Fry, Simon Wheeler, Gina Carter and Alan Moloney
- Line producers
- Averil Brennan (series 1), Leila Kirkpatrick (series 2), Sarah McBryde (series 3)
- Script editor
- Emma Lightfoot
- Casting
- Suzanne Crowley and Gilly Poole
- Production design
- Suzie Davies
- Editors
- Chris Wimble, Scott Thomas, Annie Kocur, John MacDonnell and Liz Webber
- Composer and conductor
- Mark Russell
Behind the scenes
An ITV3 special was transmitted after the series-one finale on 27 May 2007 and included with the first-series DVD. Cataloguing its interviews remains an archive task.
Open the complete Behind the Scenes archive guide →
Creative teamWriters, directors, producers and craft leads →ThemesFamily, justice, belonging and identity →Sunday-night dramaHow the programme balances comfort and consequence →
Browse ten production findings in the research index →
The unanswered question
Why did Kingdom end?
Separate ITV’s documented decision and the 2009 production climate from later fan theories.
Read the evidence-based cancellation guide →