Filming for Dr Who has taken place on a quiet residential street in Cardiff and fans of the Time Lord have flocked to get a sneak preview. In a letter to residents on Axminster Road, production company Bad Wolf said it would be filming the cult series for five days (June 3, then June 6 until June 9).
"This is all night filming, finishing in the earlier hours of the morning, with preparations happening on the street during the day," said the letter, with a warning that filming activity would be noisy. It added the road would be closed and all resident vehicles would be moved off the street to make way for 100 crew and extras.
Social media updates and pictures posted by lucky fans reveal that David Tennant - as well as his stunt double - and Catherine Tate were on set. Heartstopper's Yasmin Finney was also spotted and waved to fans. It is believed the filming is for the show's 60th anniversary next year. You can read all our TV news here.
Tennant first stepped into the Tardis in 2005 with his final episode airing on New Year's Day 2010. However he did return for the 50th anniversary special, The Day Of The Doctor, in 2013. The actor, 51, played the 10th Time Lord with comedian Tate, 52, starring as companion Donna Noble.
The BBC confirmed the duo have reunited to film scenes that are due to air next year to coincide with the anniversary celebrations of the popular TV series. Teasing the duo's much-anticipated return, Doctor Who's returning showrunner Russell T Davies said: “They’re back! And it looks impossible – first, we announce a new Doctor, and then an old Doctor, along with the wonderful Donna, what on earth is happening?"
Meanwhile Finney has been casted to play a character called Rose. Other characters spotted by fans on Axminster Road include Donna's husband Shaun Temple and her mother Sylvia Noble. Pictures from the set also show UNIT soldiers and trucks (UNIT being a military organisation in the series), as well as a black London cab which fans say was used in a car chase involving the characters.
But most exciting of all was the unexpected appearance of two monsters who fans believe might hail from old Dr Who comics and will be making their on-screen debut: a white furry creature, who at one point appears to be in the taxi, and a big green insectoid. It's believed the former might be Beep The Meep - a rabbit-like alien criminal and leader of the Meeps - while fans have speculated the latter is possibly Wrarth Warrior - a galactic police officer who's job is to deal with the Meeps.
"Apparently Beep The Meep has been spotted at Axminster Road. Sound the alarms!!" tweeted one excited fan, while another said: "Beep the Meep! BEEP THE MEEP! What a time to be alive." A third wrote: "Love that Beep the Meep is trending. Despite being a Doctor Who fan since the mid 80s I had no idea what it was until I googled it this morning." Another added: "Wrarth Warriors and Meeps! I love how he's [Russell T Davies] gone to the expanded universe for inspiration."
Tennant took over the starring role in 2005 from Christopher Eccleston and was succeeded by Matt Smith while Billie Piper’s companion role was the first in the programme’s 2005 revival and was followed by Tate as Donna. Opinionated Donna helped to save civilisation from the Daleks during her spell with the 10th Doctor but she had her memories of her adventures in the Tardis wiped, because the powers the Time Lord had given her threatened to overwhelm her brain.
A synopsis teasing their Doctor Who return mentioned Donna’s memory wipe to save her life, adding that the Doctor had “left her family with a warning: if ever she remembers, she will die”. It adds: “But with the two coming face to face once more, the big question is, just what brings the Doctor and Donna back together?”
It was recently announced that Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa will be taking over from Jodie Whittaker to become the show’s 14th Doctor. To get more TV news sent straight to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletters here.
