Russell T Davies, the Welsh screenwriter behind Doctor Who, has admitted he created "fake scenes" in a bid to invite Queen Elizabeth onto the set of the sci-fi series. Davies oversaw the show's revival from 2005 to 2010 and again from 2023 to 2025.
Although the series is set across the world and in space, it was predominantly filmed in Cardiff, with the production base at Bad Wolf Studios in Cardiff Bay. Over the years, filming has been spotted across the city, but on one occasion there were plans to shoot in Swansea thanks to a potential visit from a very special guest.
Secret plan to lure the Queen to Swansea
Speaking on the No Such Thing As A Fish podcast, the Doctor Who showrunner confessed to improvising a scene specifically catered to a set visit from the late Queen Elizabeth. He said: "I've just remembered fake scenes that I have written, which is that we were once told that the Queen wanted to visit the set of Doctor Who. But she was only going to Swansea. We used to shoot in Cardiff."
"Now, when the Queen might be about to visit your set, you're absolutely not allowed to tell anyone. For security reasons, which kind of makes sense," he added. "Our head of drama, Julie Gardner, was told, and she was not allowed to tell anyone. The only person she could tell was me. So in the middle of a shoot, she said: 'You've got to invent a scene set in Swansea but you can't tell anyone.'"
Production team left in the dark
Davies explained that the production team were extremely confused as they were unaware of why he had changed the filming plan. He said: "So, I suddenly issued a scene where the Tardis lands and it has to be – you know, no-one could say: 'Oh, let's shoot this in Cardiff.' And the entire production team are sitting there going: 'Why have you done this? We can't afford this.'"
"The producer like going: 'We can't have a day in Swansea.' And I was going: 'It's a really, really important scene' and they're going: 'It's not important! They just walk out and he says: 'And what's the point?' What's the point?' And you literally were not allowed to say."
Queen changed her plans
The showrunner explained that the plans did not pan out as expected. Russell said: "So there were meetings with people just being incredulous and spitting blood because the budget was being ruined and the schedule was being ruined. And then the Queen changed her plans. And then it all just never happened."
The podcast host joked: "She went to Cardiff that day instead!"
