Tag Archives: tennant

Doctor Who – Fields House

Image

Maybe the most scary location of all “Doctor Who” episodes is the one where we first meet the Weeping Angels. A “haunted house” like location where Sally is introduced to the Timelord and statues that come to life. At the time of filming (and some time after that), the house was creepy and very usefull for the production of this episode.

After 2010 however, the house was sold and renovated. Not much is left of the creepy building seen in “Blink” (the “Doctor Who” episode). But the crew returned to film the Christmas special “The Snowmen” here. Less scary, still snowmen comming to life is no picknick….

It seemed they could do better, as they did in 2016, when they returned yet again to film “Knock, Knock” (S10, E04), aired in may 2017. The building ate young students who rented the rooms… creaky floorboards… flickering lights… yes, this house is still very scary…..

And the fun part, you too can stay here, check out this link to airbnb….

Broadchurch (S03) – Little Bredy

Image

For season three of the popular Brittisch Drama Broadchurch, the story takes us away from the iconic Cliffs. Instead DI Hardy moves to a countryside crime scene. A large manor is the backdrop for this season’s story. The location is in the small town of Little Bredy. The house, Brideshead, is a private building and unfortunately not open for visitors.

Doctor Who – Cardiff – Temple of Peace

Image

The “Temple of Peace” in Cardiff, Wales, has been used for several “Doctor Who” episodes (as well as Sherlock, since both are being recorded in Wales). Close to the BBC Wales studios

On September 18 and 19 2007, the crew used the Temple for the episode “The Fires of Pompeii”. Exteriors were actualy filmed in Italy, but for the location where the Sisterhood worships the Pyrovile creature, a closer location to the studio was chosen.

It was a familiar location, since the crew used the Temple beginning of October 2004. “The end of the World” also used interiors recorded at the Temple of Peace. The conference halls were transformed into “Platform 1”, an alien spaceship 5 billion years into the future.

In 2006, another episode on “Platform 1” was written, so the crew returned to the Temple in September to film the scenes. But the Temple did not just stand in for the Platform, it also was used as the Hospital where “The Face of Boe” passed away (New New York).

 

Broadchurch – Clevedon

Image

Broadchurch location (Pier not seen in series), Clevedon

Clevedon Pier

A small community is about to be torn apart when a young boy is murdered. This exciting Brittish story was set in a small seaside town in the south of England. Most scenes were filmed in Clevedon (for season 1, 2 and 3).

The marine lake, with its stunning view over the Bristol Channel is the setting for the boat burning in series 1.

The Church used throughout the series is St. Andrews Church and cemetery. It is Clevedon’s oldest church (12th century).

The interior of Jack Marshall’s newsagent’s is not a set, but a real store. Alexandra News (on Alexandra Road) provided the property.

Hill Road is Broadchurch’s High Street. With Number 22, the Hotel (Trades), where David Tennant stays. In fact, this used to be a Llods bank (although people did try to book a room or table at the Hotel while te crew was filming in Clevedon). Interiors were filmed at Walton Park Hotel, a little further down the coast.

Other locations in the area uses are Poet’s Walk, Wain’s Hill, Clevedon Pill, Marshall’s Field and Bank.

The Clevedon Pier was not used for Broadchurch (possibly because it is so iconic and people might recognise it immediately). One Direction used it for one of their videos (You and I, 2014) and also Keira Knightley and Andrew Garfield  were filmed here for “Never Let me Go” (2010).

Doctor Who – Croatia

Image

The Doctor Who crew traveled to Croatia for two episodes (thus far). The mediëval town of Trogir was used in “The Vampires of Venice” where it doubled as Venice.

Later the same town was used as the home of Vincent van Gogh in “Vincent and the Doctor” (‘though his actual home was in France in the Provence).

Doctor Who – Rome Cinecittà Studios

Image

While usualy recorded in Wales (Cardiff), for the fouth season of the Doctor Who reboot, the crew traveled to Italy. The world famous Cinecittà Studios in Rome were used as the location for Pompeii. Fun fact is that the Doctor is actualy traveling to Rome and end up in Pompeii (which in reality now is Rome).

The location was used for only two days. A day and a night shoot. For the day shoot, exteriors of thee city like set were filmed. The night shoot was used for the destruction of pompeii by the volcano (the effects van arrived just in time for the crew to set-up all effects).

All other scenes were filmed back in Wales, where the weather was very different. A chalenge for the camera crew to match the look and feel of the lovely weather they had over in Italy.

In 2015 – 2016, this Italian studio was also used to film another version of “Ben Hur”. The big charriot scene amongst others used the large sets available here.

The “Doctor” in between takes.

Doctor Who – Dubai

Image

A long way from the usual filming location in Wales, the Doctor Who crew went to Dubai for filming one of the last specials with David Tennant as the Doctor. The “Planet of the Dead” special was chosen to be filmed in Dubai because the emirate had a substantial film infrastructure and provided a unique location that was too expensive to create using CGI was unavailable in the UK.