Rare photos, taken on the set of a TV drama which, this year, celebrated its 40th anniversary, have been shared with the Isle of Wight County Press.

Edward VII starred Annette Crosbie as Queen Victoria and Timothy West as her son, Prince 'Bertie', who succeeded her in 1901, as King Edward.

Robert Hardy, Charles Dance and Felicity Kendal were also listed in the cast.

The show was part-filmed on the Isle of Wight, by the ITV company, ATV.

Isle of Wight County Press: Behind the scenes at Island Harbour, for ATV's Edward VIIBehind the scenes at Island Harbour, for ATV's Edward VII (Image: Andrew Le Brun)

Actor, Andrew Le Brun, who lives on the Island, snapped the stills while he was on set, aged just 18 years old.

Filming took place at what was then Binfield Marina, but is now better known as Island Harbour, between Newport and Whippingham, off Fairlee Road.

Andrew's photos show scenes in which the Royal family disembark the Royal Yacht.

A crowd cheers 'Edward VII' and his wife, 'Princess Alexandra', played by Helen Ryan.

The Royal yacht, Andrew reveals, was really the historic Medway Queen - a former Dunkirk hero vessel and well-known ex Isle of Wight nightclub, which is now based in Kent.

Andrew says the extras in the scene were former members of the Bellevue Players and his photos show some of the film crew, too.


Were you on set too? Do you have any memories of Isle of Wight-based film and tv programmes? We would love to hear from you.

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Filming also took place at the English Heritage-run Osborne House, which was Queen Victoria's family home and also where she died, in January 1901.

Andrew told the County Press he has a particular interest in Isle of Wight filming locations and has spent 50 years chronicling them.

Included in his research are the 1971 production, Something to Hide, which was filmed at Fishbourne, 1972's That'll Be The Day, shot at Puckpool and in parts of Ryde and Wootton, and the iconic school drama, Grange Hill which, in 1988, used both Bonchurch's East Dene estate and the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, at Havenstreet.

There are many more.

Isle of Wight County Press: Andrew Le Brun and his sister, Angela, on the set of the BBC's Doctors and Nurses, which filmed an episode on the Isle of Wight.Andrew Le Brun and his sister, Angela, on the set of the BBC's Doctors and Nurses, which filmed an episode on the Isle of Wight. (Image: Andrew Le Brun)

Meanwhile, Andrew is no stranger to being on the other side of the camera - with roles including one in the movie, The Golden Compass, in which he can be seen as butler to Mrs Coulter, played by A-lister Nicole Kidman. 

He is also pictured with his sister, Amelia, in the BBC TV sitcom Doctors and Nurses, an episode of which was filmed at Yarmouth Harbour.

In the scene, a party is being held on board a boat, for employees of the fictional St Anne's Hospital, which was 'based' in East Cowes.

Andrew credits his love of film and TV and of course, acting, to his behind-the-scenes moment on Edward VII.