The cost of the global coronavirus pandemic on the film industry in Kent can be revealed as around £2.5 million in just 14 weeks.

KentOnline has been told more than 20 productions that were due to be shot in the county between the middle of March and the end of June have been cancelled.

Among them was True Things About Me, a book adaptation starring Ruth Wilson with Jude Law among the producers.

Actors and crew were due to spend five weeks in Thanet from mid-March but had only managed three days of filming when it had to be stopped.

A large American sci-fi feature film was also due to be filmed on the White Cliffs of Dover and it was hoped a TV production would return to the county for a second series.

While the government has just given the green-light for production companies to start filming again, it's feared many won't be back in Kent again this year as they were relying on the Garden of England looking its best in the spring sunshine.

Kent Film Officer, Gabrielle Lindemann, said: "A couple of the productions are really, really season dependent - they are set in May and they're set in early June and they need to be during the strawberry season or when there are wild flowers.

"There's a lot of external filming, we've had something that needs the lavender in flower, so it really is a great, great shame.

"But hopefully, I'm just crossing fingers, that they will come back next year and we'll just get delayed by a year but it is really sad."

Kent is no stranger to being a location for many big budget Hollywood blockbusters and ratings winner TV shows.

In recent years it's been the backdrop to Disney's Christopher Robin, starring Ewan McGregor, which used Dover Cruise Terminal as a railway station, while part of Wonder Woman were shot on the banks of the Medway at Lower Halstow, near Sittingbourne.

But we may have to wait a little big longer before seeing Kent on the big screen again.

KMTV report on the effect of the pandemic on the film industry in Kent

Ms Lindemann added: "As far as we're concerned we would love to welcome productions back.

"I see our job largely in working with production companies and local communities to see what we can do so that the productions can come and film but our local residents still feel safe and that we're not bringing some huge infection into the county.

"So I'm trying to get across to Kent now saying, in theory we could have these people back, but it largely depends on you guys that you welcome them back and trust us that we will ensure that new government guidelines will be adhered to."

The Kent Film Office, which helps companies find and manage film locations in the county, has previously reported the industry has contributed around £30 million to the Kent economy in five years.

While it's thought large productions won't be able to set up in town centre locations until early next year, it's hoped some filming will be able to resume at large private houses or beaches and country parks if they are made available.

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