Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Bristol takes centre stage in Doctor Who
BRISTOL locations will take centre stage in Doctor Who: The Giggle, premiering tonight on BBC One.
The episode – the third in a trilogy of anniversary specials produced to mark 60 years of Doctor Who – was filmed on location in Bristol’s Old City last year.
To mark the occasion, Bristol Film Office has released a brand new Doctor Who in Bristol Movie Map plotting every Bristol filming location featured in Doctor Who over the past 60 years.
The episode preview released by the BBC this week shows major action scenes filmed on and around Clare Street in Bristol’s Old City in June 2022.
The Doctor (David Tennant), Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) and her grandfather Wilfred Mott (played by the late Bernard Cribbins) are seen in a world of chaos on Bristol’s streets which double for London, with explosions, tanks, soldiers and crashing vehicles around them, while the sinister character of The Toymaker (Neil Patrick Harris) dances.
Tennant and Tate also filmed scenes in and around the nearby churchyard at the historic St Stephen’s Church and Broad Street was also used during filming.
Creperie Chez Marcel was redressed to become a toyshop called ‘Mr Emporium’. Filming also took place in an alleyway connecting Broad Street to neighbouring Small Street, where the Tardis was parked.
Laura Aviles, head of film, Bristol City Council, said: “As an iconic production that has been successfully made in Wales since its reboot 20 years ago, Bristol’s neighbouring locations are easily accessible, appealing and convenient to Doctor Who’s production team.
“Bristol Film Office’s new Doctor Who in Bristol Movie Map gives you the lowdown on every Bristol location that has been used by the show since the ’70s – a must for any Doctor Who fans living in, or visiting, our city.”
The 15th Doctor, Ncuti Gatwa. will get the keys to the Tardis over the festive season.
The show airs at 6.30pm on BBC One. Visit to view the list of Bristol locations.