BBC films Dr Who in Coventry
January 2, 2010
TV bosses used Coventry’s historic Ford’s Hospital for a scene in a Dr Who episode.
The show saw the Timelord (David Tennant) travel back to 1599 where he and his assistant Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman) meet William Shakespeare.
Rob Orland, editor of www.historiccoventry.co.uk, took pictures of the cast preparing for the shoot on August 28, 2006.
He said: “We'd heard only that day, via the internet, that an episode of Doctor Who was to be filmed at Ford's Hospital in Greyfriar's Lane that evening, so around six o'clock we popped into town to see if there was any truth in the rumour.
“A small group of twenty or so people had gathered - all fans of The Doctor, and also obviously in the know. The TV crew had not long arrived too, and were wheeling out lighting rigs and props.
“We heard from one person in the slowly growing crowd that it was to be a night-time scene, and filming wouldn't begin until the early hours but to our amazement, only ten minutes after arriving, a large silver Mercedes drew up, and out climbed Freema Agyeman and David Tennant.
”In the crowd necks were craned and camera cases popped open in an effort to get a glimpse and a picture of the world's favourite doctor. Within half an hour the Coventry weather intervened, but meanwhile we'd seen The Doctor, Martha and a young William Shakespeare pacing up and down practicing their lines and positions ready for filming later on.
“Apparently, one or two persistent fans stayed the course and were rewarded by being able to see the actual 'take' long after darkness had fallen, but we went home, happy that actually we'd seen Mr Tennant - probably the best Doctor Who.... ever.”
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