The paid-for weekly's newsroom in Whitstable, Kent, became one of the locations for Channel 4 drama Southcliffe with the news editor, reporters, sub editors, the commercial team, people from pre-press and operations all appearing as extras alongside the stars of the show.
They include Skyfall and Quantum of Solace star Rory Kinnear, Sean Harris who played Fifield in the Ridley Scott’s sci-fi film Prometheus and Shirley Henderson who who played Jude in Bridget Jones’s Diary and Moaning Myrtle in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
Editor Leo Whitlock said: “The team enjoyed taking orders from the director rather than me for the day.
“They were fascinated to see how things worked behind the scenes - the attention to detail was staggering.
“They were taken aback by the sheer number of people involved, which went some way to explaining why it costs £800,000 for one hour’s filming.
“Being extras was certainly an experience for them all and they found it a lot harder than it looks - it’s unlikely they will be appearing on any Hollywood casting couches in the near future.”
(Pictured below are: News Editor Joe Walker and Chief Reporter Gerry Warren with Rory Kinnear)
Southcliffe tells the story of a fictional English market town devastated by a spate of shootings which take place over a single day.
Seen through the eyes of a journalist returning to the small town of his childhood, the programme sets out to explore tragedy, grief, responsibility and redemption, and those closest to the victims of the tragedy.
Filming has been taking place in Faversham, Canterbury and Whitstable in recent weeks and has provided the team with a number of splashes and page leads.
Leo added: "The phone has been red hot with tip offs from readers about roads being sealed off, the area being swamped with police and helicopters circling the patch.
"Countless times we've sent reporters and photographers to the scene only to discover that the Southcliffe team are in full flow."
