A number of Kent locations are to star in a Channel 5 documentary film being aired this week.

The Great Smog: Winter of ‘52 is a two-part documentary on the phenomenon in London which is estimated to have killed more than 10,000 people.

It was filmed at several venues in the county, including the Old Forge War Time House and Phoenix House community centre, both in Sittingbourne, as well as Chatham Dockyard.

It will air tonight (Wednesday) September 7 and tomorrow (Thursday) September 8.

Kevin Ralph, house photographer at the Old Forge War Time House, said he was approached by production company Banijay in March to hire the house for its upcoming production and a two-day shoot began later that month.

The multi-award-winning company has previously produced shows such as Peaky Blinders, Masterchef and Pointless, and found the Old Forge while searching for locations for its upcoming production.

The Great Smog lasted for a whole week in December 1952, where dense smog filled the air in London and killed an estimated 4,000 people that month, by filling their lungs and disrupting their breathing.

A further 8,000 deaths in the following two months are now also believed by experts to have been caused by the smog.

The smog was reportedly odd colours, like purple and green, and was so deadly people had to stay inside their houses. But it got into the houses, too, and the cold winter froze and trapped the smog.

The Old Forge War Time House, in East Street in Sittingbourne, is a 1940s living museum open on Saturdays, with dedicated re-enactors and rooms filled with entirely real objects from the time-period, down to the phones and furniture. It also has a 1930s tearoom.

As well as the living museum, the production company filmed NHS hospital scenes were filmed at Phoenix House community centre in Sittingbourne, and filmed street scenes were shot at Chatham Dockyard.

Local actors were also involved, including Jacqui Leppert, who lives near Rainham, and is the cook at the living museum. She has previously been an extra in TV shows including The Bill.

Cameron Ralph, house photographer Kevin’s son, from Sittingbourne, has been acting since he was six. He took two roles in the Channel 5 documentary. Olivia Laing, from Faversham, was still doing her A-levels during filming, when she played two roles in the documentary.

Justin Aggett, from Sittingbourne, has taught filmmaking to disadvantaged children in the past, but this was his first acting role. He had only planned to play a supporting role, but filled in when another actor got Covid.

Kevin said: “It was great to help out Phoenix House too, and help them pay rent. And I’m glad I could get work for the local re-enactors and actors. The museum is like a community. There are five main re-enactors there, who are in almost every Saturday, and they all bring something to the table.

“It’s nice that way, no one person does more or less than the others. By having my studio and getting the house hired for film shoots, I’m doing my part to make rent.”

The museum has previously worked with Kinofilm festival, which is a film festival for emerging and established filmmakers. Kevin added: “Having been involved with filmmaking myself, I understand how hard it can be to find locations on a budget. We aren’t too expensive to hire, so it’s a win-win.

“We can pay the rent and still help grassroots filmmakers, and people who want to act. Film crews like that our location isn’t too well-known, so it’s constantly not boring.

“The staff at the restaurant next door will watch us filming on their breaks. This time, it looked like Hollywood had come to town. We have some weird, weird, eclectic ways of paying our rent.”

The Great Smog: Winter of ‘52 will be on Channel 5 at 9pm tomorrow (Wednesday) and Thursday.