British Comedy Guide
The Duke. Image shows from L to R: Kempton Bunton (Jim Broadbent), Dorothy Bunton (Helen Mirren)
The Duke

The Duke

  • 2022 film

Jim Broadbent stars as a man who steals a painting from the National Gallery. Based on a true story. Also features Helen Mirren, Fionn Whitehead, Anna Maxwell Martin, Matthew Goode, Jack Bandeira and more.

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The Duke. Image shows from L to R: Dorothy Bunton (Helen Mirren), Kempton Bunton (Jim Broadbent)

Key details

Genre
Film
Released
2022
Stars
Jim Broadbent, Helen Mirren, Fionn Whitehead, Anna Maxwell Martin, Matthew Goode, Jack Bandeira, Aimée Kelly, Charlotte Spencer and more
Writers
Richard Bean and Clive Coleman
Director
Roger Michell
Producers
Nicky Bentham, Jenny Borgars, Hugo Heppell, Cameron McCracken, Peter Scarf, Andrea Scarso, Christopher Bunton and Michael Constable
Company

The Duke is a moving true story that celebrates a man who was determined to live a meaningful life. Set in 1961, it follows the story of Kempton Bunton, a 60-year old taxi driver, who stole Goya's portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London. It was the first, and remains the only, theft in the Gallery's history. Kempton proceeded to send ransom notes declaring that he would only return the painting on the condition that the government invest more in care for the elderly, specifically bringing attention to his long running campaign for pensioners to receive free television.

What happened next is the stuff of legends... only 50 years later did the full story emerge and it was revealed that Kempton had spun a web of lies. The only truth was that he was a good man, determined to change the world and save his marriage - how and why he used the Duke to achieve this, is a wonderfully uplifting tale that will be seen on film for the first time.

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Additional details

UK certificate
12A
Duration
95 minutes
UK release
Friday 25th February 2022
Distributors

Pathe

Production
Location
Camera set-up
Single camera
Picture
Colour

Website links

Broadcast details

All previous repeats
  • Saturday 22nd June 2024 at 10:35pm on BBC4
  • Sunday 16th June 2024 at 9:00pm on BBC2

Recording details

  • Yorkshire - Location filming
  • Bradford - Location filming
  • Leeds - Location filming
  • London - Location filming

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