How world’s longest-running TV science fiction show transformed Penarth’s iconic seaside landmark
PENARTH has long been a popular filming location for British television, appearing in iconic series across genres.
Doctor Who, the world’s longest-running TV science fiction series, has used the town’s Victorian streets and seaside backdrop multiple times: scenes from the 2008 episode Journey’s End feature a Dalek encounter on Arcot Street and Queen’s Road, while the 2009 special The End of Time filmed on Victoria Road.
Even earlier, the 2005 episode The Unquiet Dead incorporated Penarth interiors and exteriors in its gothic tale.
More recently, for the 2025 episode Lux, featuring the Fifteenth Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and his companion, Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu), scenes were shot on the Esplanade, featuring the pier’s pavilion transformed to resemble a 1950s American cinema (pictured).
The production team painted the pavilion, added a ’50s theatre sign, and dressed the area with vintage cars to create the American beachside city look.
The recently premiered 2025 BBC crime mystery series Death Valley, starring Timothy Spall and Gwyneth Keyworth, also made extensive use of Penarth in summer 2024.
Filming included scenes at Penarth Pier and the Conservative Club, as well as along Glebe Street and Brod Bakery.
The long-running medical drama Casualty has also tapped Penarth’s charm for various exterior shots.