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Cybermen invade Newport

9:19am Friday 11th April 2008

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THE Cybermen are back - and they've come to a city near you.

The classic Doctor Who villains took over the St Woolos cemetery, Newport while filming yesterday.

The BBC Wales drama team covered the site in fake snow for a winter scene.

Residents was left wondering whether the team may have been filming a christmas special.

Janet Hancock, who lives in Canberra Crescent, Glasllwch, said she saw the filming yesterday morning while out walking the dog.

"I was going past the cemetery walls and saw lots of white smoke.

"A security guard said they were filming Doctor Who - it was very exciting."

She said she peeked over the cemetary walls to take a look at the filming, and saw people in long black coats running all over the site.

Sadly she didn't see any of the stars of the series.

Mrs Hancock said although she wasn't a big fan of the programme, her son's girlfriend had appeared in the series as an extra.

"She's going to be a hostage," she said.

A spokesman for BBC Wales confirmed that Doctor Who was being filmed at St Woolos Cemetery.

However he remained tight lipped about what was being filmed and who was on set -saying the coporation never reveals storylines during production.

The BBC has frequently used Newport as a set for the programme.

Among the locations that have popped up are the Riverfront Theatre, the city centre, Tredegar House, and Duffryn High School.

Gwent residents have also appeared in the series as extras - as daleks, aliens and others.

One girl -Lucy Lutman -stood in for Billy Piper when the former Doctor Who assistant wasn't available.

Ms Lutman's hands were filmed in close-ups when the star wasn't available.

The programme returned to TV screens on Saturday romping home with 8.4 million viewers and a 40 per cent share of the audience.

Series writer Russell T Davies had criticised the BBC for moving Doctor Who to 6.20pm from its 7pm time slot.

Were you taking pictures of the filming? Send us your photographs by e-mail to newsdesk@southwalesargus.co.uk or follow the links on this website to send us mobile phone pictures by snap and send.


Your Say YourSouth Wales Argus

naughty and nice, newport says...
11:00am Fri 11 Apr 08

Cool, very cool but SWA spelling.while out walking the dock...? Dock, i know it's petty, but come on fingers, out!

King of the Hill, Newport says...
11:27am Fri 11 Apr 08

A spokesman for BBC Wales confirmed that Doctor Who was being filmed at St Woolos Cemetery.

However he remained tight lipped about what was being filmed and who was on set -saying the coporation never reveals storylines during production.


I think the sight of Cybermen walking through the grounds gave a slight hint as to what was being filmed haha!

Gill Shutt, says...
12:12pm Fri 11 Apr 08

It has to be either the Christmas Special or another special as this pesent series is the last one for quite a while.

Papa, Newport says...
12:33pm Fri 11 Apr 08

I sent the Augus two photographs on Wednesday afternoon and told them what was happening, not the best photo's I may add. They had a couple of lines about it taken from what I told them and the photo's in last nights Argus.
I would have thought that they would have sent a reporter and their own photogapher up there yesterday but it seems that they didn't.
They BBC's security were a bit stroppy yesterday morning as I was told that the Cybermen were supposedly top secret for this Christmas special. A security man went and reported me to the producer who sent a message back to me to stop taking photographs. I was also asked to move my car where I parked it near my sons grave which was some distance from where they were actually filming.
It seems later that day there were more proffessional photographers there who were climbing the trees to take their photo's.
The actress on the scene was the Irish lass Dervla Kirwan out of Ballykissangel.

Aaronsmith0505, Newport says...
4:14pm Fri 11 Apr 08

I got told off by security for taking pictures, its a public place! Still got some though :P Security kept following me and my mate, he took his SLR.

I rang a friend and he went over later that day with his SLR and was climbing trees :D

Aaronsmith0505, Newport says...
4:42pm Fri 11 Apr 08

Oh and its for the xmas special, I asked :)

ianzemma, newport says...
4:56pm Fri 11 Apr 08

Papa wrote:
I sent the Augus two photographs on Wednesday afternoon and told them what was happening, not the best photo's I may add. They had a couple of lines about it taken from what I told them and the photo's in last nights Argus. I would have thought that they would have sent a reporter and their own photogapher up there yesterday but it seems that they didn't. They BBC's security were a bit stroppy yesterday morning as I was told that the Cybermen were supposedly top secret for this Christmas special. A security man went and reported me to the producer who sent a message back to me to stop taking photographs. I was also asked to move my car where I parked it near my sons grave which was some distance from where they were actually filming. It seems later that day there were more proffessional photographers there who were climbing the trees to take their photo's. The actress on the scene was the Irish lass Dervla Kirwan out of Ballykissangel.
Probably didn't bother to go there because Dr who sucks big time.

Darren Powis, says...
8:03pm Fri 11 Apr 08

ianzemma wrote:
Papa wrote: I sent the Augus two photographs on Wednesday afternoon and told them what was happening, not the best photo's I may add. They had a couple of lines about it taken from what I told them and the photo's in last nights Argus. I would have thought that they would have sent a reporter and their own photogapher up there yesterday but it seems that they didn't. They BBC's security were a bit stroppy yesterday morning as I was told that the Cybermen were supposedly top secret for this Christmas special. A security man went and reported me to the producer who sent a message back to me to stop taking photographs. I was also asked to move my car where I parked it near my sons grave which was some distance from where they were actually filming. It seems later that day there were more proffessional photographers there who were climbing the trees to take their photo's. The actress on the scene was the Irish lass Dervla Kirwan out of Ballykissangel.
Probably didn't bother to go there because Dr who sucks big time.
Well done. How big and clever of you. Must have taken you a long time to think that up...

slr_pap, Newport says...
8:14pm Fri 11 Apr 08

Papa wrote:
I sent the Augus two photographs on Wednesday afternoon and told them what was happening, not the best photo's I may add. They had a couple of lines about it taken from what I told them and the photo's in last nights Argus.
I would have thought that they would have sent a reporter and their own photogapher up there yesterday but it seems that they didn't.
They BBC's security were a bit stroppy yesterday morning as I was told that the Cybermen were supposedly top secret for this Christmas special. A security man went and reported me to the producer who sent a message back to me to stop taking photographs. I was also asked to move my car where I parked it near my sons grave which was some distance from where they were actually filming.
It seems later that day there were more proffessional photographers there who were climbing the trees to take their photo's.
The actress on the scene was the Irish lass Dervla Kirwan out of Ballykissangel.
Local media are in an awkward situation when it comes to BBC or other filming. If the SWA or any other media upset the programme makers then when the media want their interviews or photo calls with the actors or director, etc then the programme makers would tell them "NO". That's why the local media only report this sort of news after the event. I should image most of the media would have know about the filming around the area after all the Doctor Who signs were along Cardiff Road pointing towards St.Woolas cemetery (filming) and the old Cattle market car park (used as a base) and were hoping a member of the public would snap some pictures for them, which has happened. I totally agree with you the security where a bit over powerful and they too told me to stop taking pictures but they can't stop you if you are in a public place. I just ignored them and carried on taking them.

oatley, says...
8:35pm Fri 11 Apr 08

I do know that David who plays Dr Who was there because he drove there himself, but why do nosey people spoil it and take photographs and contact the local paper, reporting the filming spoils it for those who enjoy the programme.

mary, says...
10:17pm Sat 12 Apr 08

Probably didn't bother to go there because Dr who sucks big time.(said ianzemma) then somthing silly happened Darren Powis said Well done. How big and clever of you. Must have taken you a long time to think that up... which means he took the bait u shouldnt react to stupid coments like the ones ianzemma makes

jordie, cwmbran says...
10:22am Mon 14 Apr 08

newport should be used to cybermen look at them all on saturday nights off their heads

geoffrw, newport says...
1:52pm Mon 14 Apr 08

cybermen Who can save us??

I know,I won't give up my day job

King of the Hill, Newport says...
4:19pm Tue 15 Apr 08

jordie wrote:
newport should be used to cybermen look at them all on saturday nights off their heads
Yeah, before they all crawl back to Cwmbran.

borgduck, uk says...
6:41pm Tue 15 Apr 08

To the idiot who said Dr Who sucked big time, GET A LIFE LOSER!!!

paul kendall, australia says...
4:48pm Wed 16 Apr 08

It's great that Newport and Cardiff feature in Dr Who. I watch the series over here and try to recognize some of the locations. Keep up the good work. A great series. Several of my high school classes have studied a few episodes, particularly the symbolism employed.

Papa, Newport says...
10:05pm Wed 16 Apr 08

Look for the video on YouTube!

ianzemma, newport says...
9:57am Sun 6 Jul 08

mary wrote:
Probably didn't bother to go there because Dr who sucks big time.(said ianzemma) then somthing silly happened Darren Powis said Well done. How big and clever of you. Must have taken you a long time to think that up... which means he took the bait u shouldnt react to stupid coments like the ones ianzemma makes
what?..not allowed my own personnal opinion now is it,i dislike Dr who,so what!

Does the fact that i don't like dr who affect your life?...no,you obviously like dr who,but do i through a hissy fit because of it?..No.


ianzemma, newport says...
9:58am Sun 6 Jul 08

borgduck wrote:
To the idiot who said Dr Who sucked big time, GET A LIFE LOSER!!!
you do understand that DR who isn't real don't you?...it's just a tv program!

Calm down

slider, Abertillery says...
11:53pm Sun 6 Jul 08

Dr Who is no where near just a tv programme, it is the best in high quality british sci- Fi, something that ITV does not try to compete with i might add.

At least Dr Who is way more entertaining than the constant stream of pure drivel that comes from the likes of Manchester or London every week (naff soaps, brain dead game shows, search for a new star/ pop group fone in stuff etc) All aimed at the viewer that prefers this kind of lowest common denominator television, and not thte kind of Tv that that stimulates conversation

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