Hollywood star filming in Sussex

Two-time Oscar nominee John Lithgow is playing Winston Churchill in The Crown, penned by Peter Morgan who wrote among other films The Queen, Frost/Nixon and The Damned United. Mr Lithgow was spotted in bowler hat and formal wear at Shoreham airport this morning, filming alongside a number of actors dressed as police officers. According to Netflix, the show’s first season will premiere in 2016. As well as featuring John Lithgow as Winston Churchill, the series also boasts former Doctor Who actor Matt Smith as the Duke of Edinburgh and Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth II. The series is based on the Queen’s life, with each series due to focus on ‘the political rivalries and personal intrigues’ across a decade of her reign. “The Crown tells the inside story of two of the most famous addresses in the world – Buckingham Palace and 10 Downing Street – and the intrigues, love lives and machinations behind the great events that shaped the second half of the 20th century. Two houses, two courts, one Crown,” announced Netflix. Also spotted for filming in Shoreham was a vehicle marked as ‘Ministry of Transport & Civil Aviation, London, W1’. Although he is filming at Shoreham today, over the weekend Mr Lithgow wrote on Twitter of how much he was enjoying himself in Sussex. He particularly enjoyed a meal out at The Swan Pub, in Lewes, and also visited Beachy Head, near Eastbourne. Twice nominated for an Oscar, in 1983 for The World According to Garp and 1984 for Terms of Endearment, Mr Lithgow has also featured in television series including How I Met Your Mother and Dexter. Sussex Newspapers has contacted Shoreham airport but a spokeswoman said it was bound by a confidentiality agreement and could not give any comment. Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live. Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on. 1) Make our website your homepage 2) Like our Facebook page 3) Follow us on Twitter 4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here. And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out! Always the first with your local news. Be part of it.