we're famous!
You may have noticed but Southend Pier has featured in a whole load of great television, films and music videos take a look at our most prominent features below!
Susan Calman's Summer by the Sea
Susan Calman's Summer By the Sea on Channel 5 sees the comedian visiting Britain’s best-loved beach resorts. In Episode 4 of Season 1 her travels brought her to the worlds longest pleasure pier, where she takes a ride on our iconic narrow gauge railway.
2021
Jamie and Jimmy's Friday Night Feast
The programme is presented by Jamie Oliver and Jimmy Doherty. The series was filmed in Jamie and Jimmy's Café, which is based at the end of Southend Pier.
Each week the Café is filled with members of the public and a celebrity guest joins Jimmy & Jamie in the Café and helps to cook a recipe of their choosing.
2014-2019
Eastenders
Southend and the Pier have featured in numerous Eastenders episodes, the most prominent was back in 2011 at the end of a dramatic storyline, which saw Ryan come to the rescue of sister Whitney who was being exploited by villain Rob. The conclusion was a showdown at the end of the pier, which saw poor old Rob thrown into the Thames.
1985-Present
Great British Railway Journeys
Southend Pier Railway featured in series 3 of Great British Railway Journeys, hosted by Michael Portillo. He stopped by the pier to share his memories and take a ride on the railway.
2012
Alison Moyet 'When I was Your Girl' Music Video
The music video was filmed on Southend Pier in March 2013. Moyet refers to it as 'a place that figured highly in my girlhood years.'
The video features Moyet, and her real-life daughter, Caitlin, walking along the rain-soaked pier (as well as standing underneath it) lip-syncing to the song.
2013
Minder
Southend Pier featured in the end credits of the British television series Minder. The sequence showed unscrupulous businessman Arthur Daley and his bodyguard (or "minder") Ray walking down the pier.
When they reach the end Arthur realises that he has left his lighter at the far end and they proceed to walk the return journey. The comic implication is that he is too mean to pay for the train ride!
1979-1994