Bristol locations will be in the primetime TV spotlight again when the nation’s favourite time traveller Doctor Who returns to the small screen from this Saturday for a much-awaited new series.
The Time Lord has a long-running connection with the city dating back to 1977 when Hengrove’s Imperial Park was featured in Season 15 starring Tom Baker. 
His latest visit was in January for a two-day shoot in Redcliffe Caves, arranged by Bristol Film Office. Peter Capaldi – the Doctor’s 12th incarnation – and Matt Lucas as Nardole shot scenes featuring the Tardis in the tunnels, and Redcliffe Wharf was used as unit base.
Filming also took place last August Bank Holiday weekend at Kings Weston House.
In his third – and last – series as the Doctor, Capaldi is teamed up with Pearl Mackie as Bill Potts, his newest travelling companion, pictured above (© BBC). In traditional Doctor Who fashion, he will be transformed into a new version of himself in the 2017 Christmas special.
Peter Capaldi previously filmed series nine at Leigh Court in 2015 and Matt Smith filmed series seven at Tyntesfield House in 2012, as well as Tyndall Avenue and Royal Fort House in central Bristol.
More recently, the Bristol Film Office also facilitated filming at Redcliffe Caves for last year’s spin-off series Class, starring Capaldi alongside a cast of new talent. 
Bristol Film Office manager Natalie Moore said: “Doctor Who is an iconic example of the best in British TV with a large and loyal audience, so it’s fantastic to have supported the latest series with our city’s locations.”
This year is the final chance to enjoy Peter Capaldi’s performance as the most recent incarnation of the alien Time Lord, after he announced earlier this year that he would be stepping down from the role after the 10th series and
Other Bristol locations used by the BBC’s flagship series include: Portland Square, Corn Street, All Saints Lane and St Nicholas Market area which doubled as Victorian London in the 2012 Christmas special starring Matt Smith, and Waring House in Bedminster which played centre stage in series 6 (2011).
Doctor Who is the latest in a long string of TV and movie titles to be filmed in Bristol recently, including feature film Another Mother’s Son, ITV drama Broadchurch (airing now), Starz upcoming The White Princess (due to premiere in the US in April), E4 comedy horror Crazyhead and BBC dramas Poldark, The Living and the Dead and Thirteen. 
Bristol Film Office, a division of Bristol City Council, offers a free service to all productions planning to film in the city from initial location and crewing advice to recces and logistical support.
The office issued 370 filming permits in 2015-16, resulting in a total of 943 filming days – up by 65% on the previous year.
Inward investment from productions working in Bristol contributed £16.6m to the economy.
Pictured: Above left, Peter Capaldi meets a fan while filming at Kings Weston House last year. Above right, the Doctor Who unit base in Bristol. Images courtesy of Bristol Film Office
