Written by new-contact on May 13, 2014. Posted in On Location

BBC films new Doctor Who episode on location on Lanzarote in Canary Islands

The BBC is filming on location on Lanzarote in the Canary Islands for the new series of Doctor Who. Peter Capaldi takes over from Matt Smith in the iconic sci-fi show, which has broadened its international scope in recent years with shoots in the US, Dubai and mainland Spain.

“For the first time since 1984, the Doctor Who production team is heading to Lanzarote,” comments lead writer and Executive Producer Steven Moffat: “The Doctor is returning to the scene of an old adventure - but there have been sinister changes since his last visit.”

The show’s new series started filming in January at the BBC’s Roath Lock facility in Cardiff. Wales has established itself as a UK production hub and Pinewood Studios recently announced plans to open a new facility in the capital.

Commenting when the new studio was first announced, Wales’ First Minister Carwyn Jones said: “This is a great example of how we are pro-active in attracting business to Wales. We approached Pinewood when we heard they faced a lack of studio capacity and seized this opportunity to bring this world-class brand to Wales.”

For the first time since 1984, the Doctor Who production team is heading to Lanzarote.

Steven Moffat, Lead Writer/Executive Producer

Doctor Who has become an international hit for the BBC since its re-launch in 2005 and global location filming has become more commonplace. In 2010 the show filmed on location in the US for the first time in its history and European shooting has included Croatia and Spain’s Almeria Desert, which was used for a Western-themed episode.

Mainland Spain does not yet offer a formal filming incentive, but the Canary Islands offer financial reductions as part of a special tax zone and are regularly used by big-budget feature productions.

(Photo: BBC)