Prince William Explores Doctor Who Tardis During Studio Visit

The Prince of Wales, Prince William, visited Bad Wolf Studios in Cardiff on September 10, 2023, where he toured the iconic Tardis from the long-running BBC sci-fi series, Doctor Who. This visit coincided with the studio’s 10th anniversary and highlighted the establishment’s commitment to nurturing new talent in the television industry.

During his time at Bad Wolf Studios, Prince William was guided by chief executive Jane Tranter, who also showed him around the set of the upcoming BBC series, The Other Bennet Sister. Tranter expressed her delight at having the Prince visit, stating, “It was a complete joy to show Prince William around Bad Wolf. We are so incredibly proud of the outreach work being done by Allison Dowzell and the team at Screen Alliance Wales.”

Prince William’s engagement included introductions to trainees from the Screen Alliance Wales (SAW) initiative. This program has successfully supported numerous individuals in their television careers, many of whom have benefited from the Prince William Bafta Bursary. Dowzell, the managing director of SAW, elaborated on the significance of the Prince’s visit, emphasizing how it encourages the new generation of TV creatives.

“It was fantastic to see him take such an interest in the new generation of TV creatives,” Tranter added. The trainees showcased how they are utilizing their bursaries to advance their careers, which intrigued the Prince, who engaged directly with the aspiring professionals.

In addition to his studio visit, Prince William attended an event at the Jac Lewis Foundation centre located at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium to mark World Suicide Prevention Day. There, he participated in a puppetry workshop led by SAW education and training executive Sarah O’Keefe, which involved schoolchildren from St Albans RC Primary School in Tremorfa. The workshop utilized puppets to represent characters’ daemons from the BBC series His Dark Materials, aiming to introduce children to the television industry.

Since its inception, SAW has arranged a total of 3,772 studio visits, including classroom lessons, and has created 149 paid traineeships across various Welsh TV productions, including Industry, Doctor Who, and The Other Bennet Sister. The program’s impact on local talent development is significant, as it continues to provide opportunities for individuals aspiring to enter the television industry.

Prince William’s visit not only celebrated the accomplishments of Bad Wolf Studios but also reinforced the importance of education and training in the creative sectors, showcasing how initiatives like SAW can effectively bridge the gap between education and professional opportunities in the media landscape.