The news of Ncuti Gatwa becoming the fourteenth Doctor to operate the iconic Tardis in the ever-popular Doctor Who franchise has sent waves across the nation. The regeneration of the Doctor is always an exciting, and sometimes bittersweet, time, and Ncuti's latest role has definitely thrilled fans who have already seen his talents showcased in Netflix's Sex Education.
When Sex Education first hit our screens in early 2019, viewers were left scratching their heads when it came to working out where in the world the coming-of-age series was filmed. Despite having a mostly British cast, the show's aesthetics are incredibly American, from the Letterman jackets to the lockers that line the school corridors, and it has a nostalgic tint to it.
For some fans of Sex Education, it came as a shock when it was revealed that the show was in fact filmed in the UK, in a place not too far from Bristol: the Wye Valley. If you're a Doctor Who fanatic, and you're looking to watch Sex Education to get to know Ncuti before he becomes the Doctor, you can visit the following nearby locations that the Doctor himself has strolled through.
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Filming for Sex Education took place in the spectacular Wye Valley, which, in some places, certainly gives a mid-Atlantic vibe, especially when driving through forested Symonds Yat (57 minutes from Bristol). This incredibly attractive village, separated into two halves by the meandering River Wye, is where main character Otis (Asa Butterfield) and his mother, Jean (Gillian Anderson) live with Ncuti's character, Eric, often visiting.
The distinctive red and white chalet that Eric often visits his friend at is in a commanding position above a Wye Valley favourite - The Saracens Head. Plenty of Sex Education fans visiting the area walk the lane that Eric and Otis ride up on their bikes to see the house in person, and, for those who want the full-on Sex Education experience, you can even rent the Herefordshire home for a weekend.
During their scenic bike rides to school, Eric and Otis often ride over the old Wireworks Bridge at Tintern (33 minutes from Bristol), in Monmouthshire, which is another village that features heavily in the series alongside the equally picturesque village of Llandogo (39 minutes from Bristol). If you call into Llandogo, you may recognise Browns Village Stores, the workplace of several Sex Education characters, which is barely changed every time film crews descend on the Wye Valley. Llandogo is also where Eric lives, although his house, The Old Farmhouse Mews, is a privately-owned home.
In the second series, a short drive to Monmouth (51 minutes from Bristol) and you will find Vauxhall Fields, which is where the fairground scenes were shot. At the leisure park in Symonds Yat West, you'll find the arcade that Eric and Rahim visit and share a kiss.
When it came to filming the third series of Sex Education, the world looked a little different, and although a lot of the filming locations remained the same, the crew had to adapt. For the coach trip scenes, as the cast and crew could not go over to France to film due to travel restrictions, they had to make use of sections of the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire instead, which is just a short drive from the Wye Valley. The locations that Eric and his friends pass through include the road behind The Speech House Hotel and Mallards Pike (52 minutes from Bristol), a beautiful Forestry England site.
Confirmation has been given that series four of Sex Education is coming, as it was given the go-ahead back in September 2021. It is not yet known when series four will be gracing Netflix, but with much of the cast booked up and busy, many fans are wondering whether the fourth series of Sex Education will be the last.
In addition to taking on the role of the fourteenth Doctor, Ncuti will be starring alongside Emma Mackey, who plays Maeve, and Connor Swindells, who plays Adam, in Barbie, which is set to be released in July 2023. In addition to Sex Education, Doctor Who, and Barbie, Ncuti has had roles in Horrible Histories: The Movie, The Last Letter from Your Lover, and voiced a character in video game GRID Legends.
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