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How ‘Doctor Who’ Exec Producers Jane Tranter and Julie Gardner Helped Transform South Wales Into a Buzzing Hive of Production
The renaissance of 'Doctor Who' is a 20-year journey that is entwined with the establishment of a thriving TV production scene in South Wales.
This dates back to 2003 when writer Russell T. Davies was asked by the BBC’s then head of drama, Jane Tranter, to revive the show and to base the production in South Wales, an area hitherto known for coal mining and heavy industry. “And the other reason for that is I had a vision: Wales is God’s own country – it’s the most beautiful place – and I thought, how amazing to build a studio somewhere where you drive through green fields, and the deer are running across them in the early morning mist as you’re there for your 6 a.m. start. Allison Dowzell, managing director of Screen Alliance Wales, explains that “the aim is to educate, inspire and give ambition to people from an early age.” From the age of 7, local children are introduced to the work of Bad Wolf and from 18 they are encouraged to consider placements and traineeships, and then eventual join as professional crew.
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