On Screen

1960s
Thamesmead as a flagship project was launched in a blaze of publicity, but just as celebrities can get too much exposure, so did Thamesmead.  It began to pick up an negative reputation as an estate rife with problems, while its less newsworthy achievements tended to take second place.

1971
The film director Stanley Kubrick chose Thamesmead as the location for his film ‘Clockwork Orange'. Nothing could have been more disastrous for the area's long-term reputation. If people had never come across Thamesmead before, they could be excused from drawing the wrong conclusion about the place.

A ‘Man Alive' documentary made by the BBC yet again showed viewers Thamesmead at its worst, and caused an outcry from residents.

1980
Thamesmead attracted rare positive attention when it received a Royal visit from the Queen and whilst the media were still more concerned to portray the ‘problems' of Thamesmead, the Queen's visit generally gave a boost to the community, and showed it off essentially in a good light.

1985
LWT'S action-crime drama smash hit 'Dempsey and Makepeace' was mainly filmed on location in Bermondsey but they also filmed a car chase through West Thamesmead.

1991
Echoes of ‘Clockwork Orange' reverberated once more with the murder of Rolan Adams, a young, black teenager. ‘London's once model new town, turned into town of terror, was the startling opening to the London Programme on ITV.

1996
The choice of Thamesmead as the location for the film ‘Beautiful Thing' must have improved the long term reputation of Thamesmead, helping to lay to rest the legacy of ‘Clockwork Orange'. In the sunshine the concrete buildings bore little resemblance to the threatening environment portrayed in the earlier film and reminded viewers that Thamesmead can be a pleasant place to live.

2006
Thamesmead was selected by Warner Bros to be one of a handful of locations used in Harry Potter movie, 'Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix', which was released in 2007.

2008
British band the Kaiser Chiefs filmed the music video to their single 'Never Miss a Beat' (which features backing vocals from Lily Allen and the New York Pony Club) in Thamesmead. It is the first track to be taken from their Mark Ronson-produced, 3rd album 'Off With Their Heads'. Filming took place along Harrow Manor Way - including at the side of Thamesmead's indoor climbing wall The cAve, Tavy Bridge, Binsey Walk, Southmere Lake and the Barge Pole pub.

2009
ITV1's popular morning TV programme, GMTV with Lorraine filmed their Drop a Dress Size in a Month challenge at The cAve on Thursday 19 November 2009; the segment was shown on GMTV with Lorraine on Monday 23 November.

Whilst Channel 4/E4's Misfits which follows five outsiders on a community service who get struck by a flash storm and lumbered with special powers, was filmed around Southmere Lake and Tavy Bridge.

ITV London News featured Chocolate Film's footage from their film titled Thamesmead: 21st Century Town on their show on Friday 4 December 2009.

2010
UKTV's Gutted TV show seeks to shock hoarders out of their habits to show them that less is more. In this first show of the second series, they filmed a hoarder from Thamesmead.

Misfits filmed the second series of its BAFTA winning TV show (Best Drama Series, BAFTA 2010)

2011
The third series of Misfits was filmed.

2012
The fourth series of Misfits was filmed.

2013
The fifth and last series of Misfits was filmed around Southlake and will be aired during the winter.

The Script filmed their music video, Millionaires along Yarnton Way and in Abbey Wood.

2012

Victor Frankenstein featuring Daniel Radcliffe and James McAvoy was filmed at Crossness Pumping Station.