Chance to see the secrets of top shows

1:45pm Friday 21st November 2008

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TWO Witney brothers are the envy of their schoolmates after getting an exclusive look around the set of the Dr Who series.

They even have a replica key to the Tardis time machine – all thanks to their dad correctly answering a question about the popular children’s TV programme.

Laurie Day, eight, and William, five, along with their mother, Joanne, and father, Nigel, were treated to a day out at the Cardiff studios, where Dr Who, along with other BBC spin-off science fiction series Torchwood and the Sarah Jane Adventures are produced.

They were among the 100 winners of a special offer linked in to this year’s Children in Need appeal on BBC.

Nigel said: “It was a superb weekend. We were all just so excited and thrilled to be offered the chance to see behind the scenes of the show, of which we are all huge fans.

“The boys were so happy all day, and our thanks go to all those involved for organising such an experience.”

The family live at Burwell Drive, Witney, and the two boys are both pupils at Queen’s Dyke primary school.

The studio set is a “secret location” in the Cardiff area, and has not previously been opened up to the public. But, because of so many requests, a one-off trip was organised with Children in Need, and, in the process, raised charity money for the appeal through viewer telephone calls.

The area around Cardiff and South Wales, including Cardiff Bay, is also used for outdoor set sequences in all three programmes.

The family were also treated to a meeting with the producer of all three shows, Russell T Davies.

The boys’ mother, Joanne, said: “We do know quite a lot about Dr Who and the other programmes, so it was amazing.

“It is the only time they have allowed people. I hope they do it again because there are so many fans.

“Some of the boys’ classmates did not quite believe that it was all for real, but I guess the specially cut Tardis key proves we were there.”

Nigel Howells, Cardiff City Council’s executive member for sport, leisure, and culture, said: “We have all worked hard in making sure the competition winners had a memorable stay in South Wales. Cardiff is proud to be the home of Doctor Who.”