This year’s TV schedule, however, isn’t blessed by the presence of the time lord but that hasn’t stopped us from reminiscing about just how many times we’ve seen Newport as the backdrop through an adventure in time and space on the show.
Diverse Vinyl is the backdrop for ‘Blink’ (Image: BBC)
One of the most terrifying and nightmare inducing episodes was filmed in Newport, at a record shop on Charles Street. Diverse Vinyl is the backdrop for ‘Blink’, which sees Sally Sparrow (Carey Mulligan) face off against the Weeping Angels in their first appearance.
Diverse Vinyl is the backdrop for ‘Blink’ (Image: BBC)
While the store is repurposed as a DVD shop in the episode, it still proves to be one of the most easily recognizable locations from one of the series’ highest rated episodes. The exterior of Charles Street along with one of the café’s on the street act as locations throughout the episode.
Also featuring in ‘Blink’ is none other than St Woolos Cemetery. This cemetery is huge but Sally’s path through can be easily found thanks to a trio of leaning gravestones. Here, we encounter the Weeping Angels yet again, who look quite at home.
Cybermen take over St Woolos Cemetery (Image: Newsquest)
St Woolos Cemetery makes another appearance in the 2008 Christmas Special, where Cybermen attack a group of mourners in what is supposed to be Victorian London.
The Doctor, Rose and Mickey take a seat outside the Riverfront (Image: BBC)
The Cybermen made an earlier appearance in Newport two years prior in the episode aptly titled ‘Rise of the Cybermen’. A quick scene filmed outside the Riverfront Theatre shows Rose Tyler, Mickey Smith and David Tennant’s tenth Doctor take a quick seat on the banks of the River Usk.
Tredegar House appears in at least a dozen episodes of Doctor Who, with its historic interior and façade proving the perfect backdrop to a trip back in time.
Tredegar House doubles as Prime Minister Harriet Jones’ office (Image: BBC)
Each Doctor since David Tennant’s has visited, with their iteration of the character finding themselves in trouble at this National Trust property.
The first of these episodes in 2005 is ‘The Christmas Invasion’ and features Prime Minister Harriet Jones addressing her nation from the office.
Other notable appearances for the House and its grounds include the terrifying ‘Tooth and Claw’ (2006), The Girl in the Fireplace (2006), The Impossible Astronaut (2011) and Spyfall Part 2 (2020).