Western Morning News (Saturday)
Estate hits out at BBC’s Doctor Who Durdle Door scene
THE owner of the estate used in Jodie Whittaker’s final Dr Who scene has branded the BBC ‘dishonest’ – and claims it will encourage people to dangerously climb up its rocky arch.
Millions of television viewers watched the character regenerate into former Doctor David Tennant on top of Durdle Door at the privately-owned Lulworth Estate in Dorset.
The BBC approached the estate on the Jurassic Coast for consent to film scenes at the iconic landmark for the show’s special centenary episode.
But James Weld, of the estate, said the BBC made no mention of wanting to film on top of the 200ft limestone arch for the dramatic episode, which aired on Sunday.
He said permission would have been denied had the corporation provided a ‘proper description’ of how Durdle Door would be used.
And he is now considering pulling the plug on all future requests from the BBC to film there.
In a statement, the estate said: “We are aware of the Doctor Who episode where the final scene depicted the Doctor and the Tardis on top of Durdle Door.
“When consenting to the use of Durdle Door for an episode of Doctor Who, the BBC decided not to include a proper description of what they intended. If we had known we would not have agreed, because of the encouragement that this may give to some of our visitors to put themselves in a dangerous position, the consequences of which have been well documented.
“With any filming request we seek details of what is intended, and no mention was made by the BBC that they were seeking to portray the Tardis and the Doctor on top of Durdle Door, the consequences of which will have a potentially serious impact on our staff and the emergency services.
“We are disappointed that the BBC chose not to be honest with us when seeking our permission and have written to the BBC requesting that they provide us with an explanation about what we regard as a duplicitous and dishonest request to film.
“We are considering whether the BBC should now be prevented from filming at Lulworth in the future.
“Neither the Tardis nor the Doctor were actually on the top of Durdle Door, but this would not necessarily be accepted by viewers and has now increased the difficulties we continue to have regarding the safety of visitors to Durdle Door.”
A BBC Spokesperson said: “Doctor Who’s centenary special regeneration scene was a tightly kept secret. Although we were granted permission to film with a drone we weren’t asked how the location would be portrayed on screen. We truly felt that this dramatic scene is one that the Doctor Who audience would come to expect from the show.”
The beauty spot has soared in popularity as a tourist attraction in recent years and has attracted danger-seeking jumpers, known as tombstoners.
During one incident in May 2020, at least four people were encouraged to jump from the landmark by crowds on the beach, with thousands evacuated from the area as the situation was declared a critical incident by emergency services.