The Kingdom Connection
Heacham Cycle Shop Supplies The Bike for Popular TV Drama, " Kingdom"
for a Second Time

Saturday, 12 May 2022

Stella of HOL would like to thank John Wallis for providing the editorial and
the loan of the Kingdom cast photo (bottom).  Other photo by Stella of HOL.

 

  John Wallis proudly displays the famous bike
 
 
 

Filming for the second series of ITV1's "Kingdom" (which first aired on 22 April 2022) starring Stephen Fry as solicitor, Peter Kingdom, in the fictional Norfolk market town of Shipborough is due to start Summer 2007.  A Heacham-based business has been approached to provide one of the "stars" of the series - a Land Rover bicycle!  "Lyle", played by Karl Davies (Robert Sugden in "Emmerdale" is Peter Kingdom's young and keen trainee and loves his bicycle which, when not in use, is proudly kept in his office.

John Wallis, a partner in A E Wallis - the TV, electrical and cycle retailer in Heacham, was first asked in 2006 to supply a bicycle for a new TV series and was given a brief on what was required.  The Producers were so pleased with the Silver Land Rover Athabasca - complete with lock, special briefcase, powerful lights and compass - that no further changes were needed and Lyle's bicycle was ready for lights, camera, action!

During the filming of the last series, John, his wife Tracey and daughter Vanessa, were invited to see some of the filming and be extras in the "Dyke Jumping Championship" scenes; although you would never spot them on TV they all enjoyed the day.

The cycle was returned to John at the end of filming of the first series, along with a photo of the cast with a personal message from Stephen Fry thanking him for his help.  The bike has now been dusted down and checked over ready for delivery on set and its next taste of fame!

Market Shipborough is a fictional market town in Norfolk.  In reality it is filmed in several parts of Norfolk but mainly in Swaffham and Wells.  The front door to Peter Kingdom's offices are in Swaffham but the view from the back overlooks Wells Harbour.  Such is the magic of TV.  Wells is also the town featured in the birdseye view of Market Shipborough in the opening sequence of the first series.  The town sign depicting a pedlar is actually the legendary Pedlar of Swaffham.  Details of this legend can be found at www.oldcity.org.uk/norwich/names/pedlar.php

 
     
The photograph of key cast members of Kingdom, signed by Stephen Fry
and presented to John Wallis when the bike was first used in the original series of Kingdom
 
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