Doctor Who filming: Neil Patrick Harris, David Tennant and Catherine Tate in Bristol

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A Doctor Who film crew from production company Bad Wolf Ltd filmed a scene with David Tennant, Catherine Tate and Neil Patrick Harris for the first of two day shoots in the area of Broad Street in Bristol on 15 June.

SPOILERS FOLLOW

Set-up began on Monday, 14 June with a local shopfront set dressed Mr Emporium, a toy, game, tricks and magic shop.

Nearby there was an antique stall offering a plaque with “Toy Maker of the Year” on it.

It is speculated by many fans that Mr Emporium is a shop run by The Toymaker, also known as the Celestial Toymaker and the Crystal Guardian among other names, a character first portrayed by Michael Gough in the Season 3 episode The Celestial Toymaker.

The Toymaker is a powerful being who ensnares sentient beings in seemingly childish games, with their freedom at stake. Within his realm, the Celestial Toyroom, the Toymaker commands immense powers. Though the games are always rigged in his favour, they are limited by his rules.

Fans believe that Neil Patrick Harris, recently announced as filming scenes set to air in 2023 as part of the show’s 60th anniversary and described by Russell T Davies as the “greatest enemy the Doctor has ever faced” is playing The Toymaker.

Posters, props, graffiti, UNIT (Unified Intelligence Taskforce) vehicles, Shaun Temple’s taxi and some damaged cars were also set up by the crew as part of the street set.

The word “FLUX” was written as graffiti, no doubt as a reference to the Doctor Who: Flux series.

On 15 June, the filming occurred on Baldwin Street and Clare Street in the centre of Bristol.

An alleyway was strewn with debris.

A car was set up as if it were on fire.

David Tennant showed up to rehearse, then film.

Chaotic scenes with extras playing pedestrians randomly fighting each other were staged and filmed.

David Tennant’s Doctor was filmed attempting to reason with one of the rioters.

Neil Patrick Harris showed up dressed like a circus ringmaster. His character seemed to revel in the chaos and even briefly waylaid the Doctor for a dance.

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UNIT soldiers showed up to attempt to contain the chaos.

Then Catherine Tate was spotted with Bernard Cribbin’s double standing in for Donna Noble’s father Wilfred Mott.

Doctor Who filming continued in on Broad Street Bristol on 16 June with scene set in the 1920s.

In a partnership between BBC Studios and Bad Wolf studios, Russell T Davies will write and produce Doctor Who 60th anniversary content for autumn of 2023, and series beyond.