Journalists from a weekly newspaper are set to star as extras in a TV drama after their newsroom was used for filming the show.

The Kentish Gazette’s newsroom in Whitstable became one of the locations for Channel 4 drama Southcliffe, which is due to be broadcast next year.

The paper’s news editor, reporters, sub editors, commercial team and others were all filmed as extras alongside the stars of the show.

These included Skyfall and Quantum of Solace star Rory Kinnear, Sean Harris who played Fifield in sci-fi film Prometheus and Shirley Henderson who who played Jude in Bridget Jones’s Diary and Moaning Myrtle in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

The Gazette's chief reporter Gerry Warren, left, is pictured with actor Rory Kinnear, front.

Editor Leo Whitlock said: “The team enjoyed taking orders from the director rather than me for the day. They were fascinated to see how things worked behind the scenes – the attention to detail was staggering.

“They were taken aback by the sheer number of people involved, which went some way to explaining why it costs £800,000 for one hour’s filming.

“Being extras was certainly an experience for them all and they found it a lot harder than it looks – it’s unlikely they will be appearing on any Hollywood casting couches in the near future.”

Southcliffe tells the story of a fictional English market town devastated by a spate of shootings which take place over a single day, with the events being seen through the eyes of a journalist returning to the town of his childhood.

Filming has been taking place in Faversham, Canterbury and Whitstable over the last few weeks and has provided the Gazette with a number of splashes and page leads.

Leo added: “The phone has been red hot with tip offs from readers about roads being sealed off, the area being swamped with police and helicopters circling the patch.

“Countless times we’ve sent reporters and photographers to the scene only to discover that the Southcliffe team are in full flow.”

Southcliffe is a Warp Films production in association with Borderline Films.