A Netflix series that was filmed in Kent about an openly gay teenage boy and his coming-of-age romance has been released today.

New drama Heartstopper features scenes shot last summer on Herne Bay’s pier, its beach and town centre.

Starring newcomer Joe Locke, it centres on Charlie and rugby captain Nick, played by Rocketman actor Kit Connor, who meet at an all-boys grammar school, become friends and fall in love.

A Kent Film Office spokesman said: “This is a story of love and friendship and deals with issues such as coming out and mental illness.

“During filming, production visited Herne Bay to film various scenes on the pier, beach and town centre of the two boys enjoying a day by the seaside.”

Crews were spotted in the Bay for one day of filming last June, when the drama’s working title was Evergreen.

Developed by Alice Oseman from her popular webcomic of the same title, the eight-episode series sees Charlie’s infatuation with Nick deepen, as the boys’ friendship blossoms into a relationship.

In recent years, the town has also been used during the filming of Sky comedy Two Weeks to Live, ITV’s Kate & Koji and Whitstable Pearl.

It's not the first time Netflix has filmed in Kent, with scenes shot for popular drama Sex Education at Folkestone's Harbour Arm.

The streaming giant has also been linked to film studios planned to be built in Ashford.

Heartstopper’s release comes after the shock news Netflix lost 200,000 subscribers in the first three months of 2022.

The streaming giant has warned shareholders that it could lose a further two million subscribers in the three months leading up to July.