### **Television Presenter Alex Jones Wakes to Find Car Disguised as Hedge by Doctor Who Filming Crew in Cardiff**
Television presenter Alex Jones has recalled a surreal moment when her car was unexpectedly camouflaged as a hedge by set designers from the BBC’s cult sci-fi series, Doctor Who. The story, which she shared on her podcast, offers a charming glimpse into the sometimes unpredictable impacts of location filming on the lives of local residents.
Jones, 48, who is well-known for her role on The One Show, recounted the incident during a recent discussion with McFly drummer Harry Judd on their podcast, ‘Binge!’. She described an early morning dash from her Cardiff home, only to discover her iconic yellow Volkswagen Beetle had seemingly vanished from outside her house. The revelation came as she prepared to leave at 4:30am to present a separate TV music programme, with a tight deadline to arrive at the studio for makeup and filming.
Describing her initial reaction, Jones admitted she was instantly thrown into “panic mode” as she opened her front door to find her vehicle missing. The confusion soon turned to bewildered amusement, however, when she noticed a large hedge occupying the very spot where her car should have been. It transpired that the Doctor Who production crew, in the midst of filming a period episode on her street, had cloaked her car to eliminate anachronisms from their meticulously crafted set.
She explained on the podcast, “When I was living in Cardiff… I opened the front door and my car had disappeared, which made me panic. But instead there was this huge hedge.” She went on to clarify that the ‘designer’ team from Doctor Who had taken creative measures to ensure no modern vehicles would appear in shot, simply covering her car without, it seems, warning her directly.
During their conversation, Harry Judd pressed Jones on whether she had given any prior consent for her car’s transformation. Jones mused that perhaps a “slip of paper” may have been posted through her letterbox, but she had not noticed any formal notice at the time. Although taken aback by the inconvenience, she was able to laugh about the mishap in hindsight.
The experience highlights a lesser-seen aspect of location filming for popular British television productions, where real neighbourhoods can be temporarily transformed for the sake of authenticity. As Cardiff is a regular backdrop for Doctor Who, residents have become somewhat accustomed to the flurry of activity that often accompanies the show’s tight production schedules.
Eventually, Jones found a member of the crew, clipboard in hand, and explained her need to leave the set so early in the morning. The team was reportedly bemused, explaining, “This is why we film at this time in the morning,” suggesting they hoped to avoid such collisions with daily life by working in the small hours.
While the disruption no doubt disoriented Jones in the moment, she has since shared the anecdote with characteristic good humour and is set to make a cameo appearance in the current series of Doctor Who herself, interviewing one of the actors as part of her ongoing broadcasting ventures.
Jones’s story adds a light-hearted note to the list of unlikely interactions between local residents and television crews, serving as a reminder of the curious encounters that can occur when the worlds of entertainment and everyday life collide. For many fans, it offers an amusing behind-the-scenes snapshot of the dedication required to keep the beloved sci-fi show’s universe convincing.
As for Jones, the tale of her Beetle’s brief transformation encapsulates both the minor hassles and the unexpected joys that can come from living within a city renowned for its booming creative industries. Cardiff’s continued role as a hub for British television promises more such stories as productions roll on – hopefully with more advance notice for all involved.