Upper Boat Studios was a television studio complex leased to the BBC in mid-2006, and formerly operated by BBC Wales.
It is located in Upper Boat, a village on the outskirts of Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, near Cardiff in Wales. The studios, previously a seat belt manufacturing factory for the automotive industry, were officially opened on , by Welsh Enterprise Minister Andrew Davies, for the purpose of producing Doctor Who, along with its related spin-off programmes.
Facilities At ten times larger than BBC Wales existing site at Llandaff, the Doctor Who residency at Upper Boat Studios included the use of its six sound stages. Other facilities at Upper Boat included a large props store, workshops, and video editing suites.
History By 2011, Doctor Who was the only programme still based at Upper Boat, following the move of several BBC Wales productions to the new permanent home at the new Roath Lock studios. Doctor Who itself relocated to Roath Lock throughout 2012, with the last filming day at Upper Boat on 11 May 2012.
Despite the studio closure, production on Sherlock series 3 continued at the studios until September 2013.
Productions Productions based at Upper Boat Studios TitleGenreNo. ofepisodesProducedfromNotes Doctor Who Science fiction drama 66 2006–2012 moved from Unit Q2 in Newport, Wales moved to Roath Lock in 2012, midway through production of Series 7 Doctor Who Confidential 'Making-of' documentary 60 2006–2011 moved from Unit Q2 in Newport The Sarah Jane Adventures Science fiction children's drama 53 2006–2010 entire series produced at Upper Boat Studios Torchwood Science fiction drama31 2006–2008 moved to Los Angeles Torchwood Declassified 'Making-of' documentary 27 2006–2008 moved to Los Angeles Totally Doctor Who Children's magazine programme 12 2007 moved from BBC Wales SherlockCrime drama 9 + pilot 2009–2013 series 1, series 2, and series 3 produced by Hartswood Films West Sarah Jane's Alien Files Children's compilation programme 6 2010 entire series produced at Upper Boat Studios
Productions partially filmed at Upper Boat Studios TitleGenreNo. ofepisodesProducedfromNotes Upstairs Downstairs Costume drama 3 2010 kitchen and servant's hall sets moved to Roath Lock
See also
Roath Lock
References