Cardiff Set Report, August 2
Filming for the new series of Doctor Who commenced this morning at the Heath Hospital in Cardiff. Location work is occurring throughout today in the hospital's underground, labyrinthine corridors. An eyewitness has told me that, as a member of staff, they were able to get an invite to watch some of the filming take place!

The scenes being recorded involved Billie Piper (Chris Eccleston was not around for this morning's filming, unfortuantely) and some latex clad extras (Autons, I think). The eyewitness reports that the scene (it seemed to be an action/escape scene involving Rose) was recorded a number of times from different angles and in fairly extreme circumstances - it was nearly 90 degrees down there!

The location was dressed to look like a factory floor; one of the larger industrial elevators was redressed to look like an old fashioned department store type elevator - perhaps intended to be part of the department store featured in the initial first set of filming (Howells in Cardiff).

No photos or additional info were available since the production team, though extremely friendly to my eyewitness, were very tight on security and not forthcoming on any story info.
--Andrew Ford


London Set Report, July 30
ItÆs 9.30 am on July 30th 2004 and IÆm on my way to see my GP. Arriving at the surgery I discover itÆs become a Chinese Take Away and there, in front of the shop, is a large white sheet covering a large blue box. The new series of Doctor Who has come to town.

A rather friendly security guard is keeping watch over one of TVÆs most famous icons. He has little cause for concern, the local residents are friendly and bemused that their little corner of South London has become the setting for the long awaited return of Doctor Who.

Kids and adults alike want to see the box and have a picture taken in front of it. The guard tells me that the builders off a local site have been back and forth all day with their mates to get pictures taken. EveryoneÆs excited and more than a few say theyÆll return for tonightÆs shooting.

Oh, the Tardis looks fab by the way. Solidly built and every inch the part - sheÆs a beauty. The æPublic NoticeÆ is engraved onto a silver metal panel. This is an expensive prop - more on this later.

Preperations for shooting start a little before 8pm and the series leads, Chris Eccleston and Billie Piper appear around 8.30pm. A crowd has gathered and pictures are being taken. Both leads seem very friendly. EcclestonÆs heard to say ôI can still do funnyö to Piper.

Filming starts and the crowd are happy to quieten down and allow the crew to work uninterrupted. A crew member comes and chats to me and a mate, he tells us weÆre ôin for a real treatö next year and that filming is scheduled to last till February. HeÆs curious to know how we knew filming was taking place and I explain my odd discovery outside the GPs. Pretty much everyone else there is a resident of the Estate, renamed for the series but actually the oft filmed Brandon Estate in Southwark.

The conversationÆs going well until I ask what his role on the production is, ôIÆm the producerö he says. Oops! IÆve just failed to recognise Phil Collinson and - feeling a right wally - apologise. Several times. He laughs it off with a ôno reason to be sorry - just enjoy yourselvesö. Mr PhilÆs a nice man, relishing his role and clearly determined to make the best show he can. The whole crew seem relaxed and appear to be enjoying themselves. The impression is of a well prepared team for whom everything is going to plan.

Collinson dismisses criticisms of the Tardis prop, it seems he/they are looking at some boards and (possibly) newsgroups. His comment that itÆs ôthe best and most expensive one built, sheÆs beautifulö is accompanied with a grin of genuine enthusiasm. Who can blame him?

Only one sceneÆs being filmed tonight, the main action sequences were done last night involving what local residents describe as a ômilitary invasionö.

Several rehearsals later and they film the shot. EcclestonÆs seem to pass Billie the Tardis key and utters something about heading ôinto mortal dangerö. TheyÆre filming several stories above ground level so itÆs hard to hear but the acting looks superb.

Crew members mingle with the crowds, EcclestonÆs chauffer tells us what a ôgreat guyö Chris is. He seems relaxed and unfazed with the attention as he sits in the middle of a circus while camera angles are changed for the reverse shots.

The reverse shots are recorded, the set dressing is removed and the Tardis dismantled. The crew pack up and Eccleston is hurried away from the crowd. ItÆs 22.30 and the crew are heading straight back to Cardiff.

Walking back home we discover the production base is just past the flat. Temptation gets the better of me and I æliberateÆ the BBC Wales sign.

A lifelong dream has been fulfilled. IÆve seen and touched the real Tardis and IÆve seen Doctor Who be made right in front of my very eyes. Christmas came early this year.
-- Martin Hoscik