
Principal Photography for the
Mark Gatiss drama exploring the creation of
Doctor Who,
An Adventure in Space and Time, kicked off on Sunday 3rd February, with the writer
proclaiming:
It begins!, executive producer
Caroline Skinner exclaiming:
"I am on set - in 1963!!! An Adventure in Space and Time begins..........", and producer
Matt Strevens commenting:
"Standing on the set, day 1. Very exciting.".
As
previously reported, the show's first Doctor is being played by
David Bradley (with producer
Matt Strevens describing him as
"what a lovely man he is. Being very gentle. He's going to blow people's socks off in this.") Another of the original cast, Carole Ann Ford as Susan, has now been confirmed to be played by newcomer
Claudia Grant - as reported by
the agency run by William Hartnell's real-life granddaughter Jessica Carney! The actors to play the roles of William Russell and Jacqueline Hill have yet to be announced.
The set in question mentioned by Strevens was the lobby of
BBC Television Centre itself, which had been made up to resemble the BBC Club as seen in the iconic photograph of producer
Verity Lambert alongside the original season cast.
Day One's filming was successfully completed, with the producer
concluding:
"That's day 1 of An Adventure' in the bag. A very good day, lovely vibe on set. Outdoors all day tomorrow. Winter draws on." Outdoors Monday turned out to be on
Wimbledon Common, where a police box prop was spotted during the day.
Filming for Tuesday was reported as taking place on a residential street,
Wilton Road in Merton, with further filming to take place inside a house made up to resemble a residence suitable for the 1960s.
Talking about the casting of
David Bradley,
Mark Gatiss told the
Radio Times:
I’ve had David in my head for years. I’ve been trying to do this [project] for years – I tried to do it for the 40th anniversary! And before that, really – it’s taken about 12 years.
Though details of the scope of the drama have yet to be formally announced, actor
Peter Purves suggested at last weekend's
William Hartnell Years convention that the drama would focus on
Verity Lambert's time as producer (which would also encompass the start of his time on the show). Talking about the drama itself, Mark Gatiss also told the
Radio Times:
It’s mostly the personal journey of William Hartnell and his relationship with [Doctor Who producer] Verity Lambert. Eventually he had to leave, and none of us like to find that we are replaceable.