Stunned visitors saw a giant light fixture being set up at a tourist attraction in Kent over the weekend.
It is understood to be part of a major film being shot at the historic Chatham Dockyard.
“It’s definitely not for Call The Midwife – it’s a big budget,” an insider said.
The hit BBC program Call the Midwife has been filmed here since its debut over a decade ago, with the attraction now offering behind-the-scenes tours.
The shipyard has hosted numerous film crews over the years, shooting scenes for Netflix’s Bridgerton, the musical Les Miserables starring Russell Crowe and the two Sherlock Holmes films starring Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law.
Colored lights had been installed inside the Victorian Rope Shop, positioned to shine through the windows. The huge light fixture stood near the entrance to the rope factory where a catwalk had been cordoned off.
The same team that installed the lights is believed to be behind the closure of the Kingsferry Bridge leading to the Isle of Sheppey at the end of the month.
Kent Film Office is keeping a low profile but is likely to be part of production company Stinger UK who have already admitted they are shooting scenes for a “great American feature” across the county.
Kingsferry Bridge is due to be closed from 4am on Saturday October 29 to 10pm on Sunday October 30, weather permitting.
The Sheppey Crossing will remain open. There will be no train service to Sheerness on Sundays.
Bridge’s most recent starring role was in the ITV drama Too Close in April last year when a car ran off the road in a dramatic £100,000 stunt and plunged into the Swale .
A BBC crew is already on the island to finish filming the popular crime drama Silent Witness starring Emilia Fox and David Caves.
The couple, who play forensic experts Dr Nikki Alexander and Jack Hodgson, filmed across the island, but most of the work took place at a house on The Leas in Minster.
Cyclist John Gill was one of the first to come across the film crew. He said: “It’s not every day that I go out on my bike and bump into Nikki and Jack from Silent Witness.”
Neighbors also saw flashing blue lights illuminating the darkness in spectacular nighttime shots along the waterfront.
One joked: ‘I haven’t seen so many walkers on The Leas in years. Lots of people have come to take a look to see what’s going on.’
Production manager Anne-Marie Kassar has confirmed that all 100 cast and crew are shooting scenes for the crime show’s 26th series.
She said: “I can’t reveal the plot, but the story is based on a fictional seaside town and Sheppey fits the bill perfectly. It has beautiful views and everyone has been so friendly and welcoming.”
The new episodes are due to air on BBC One early next year.
