David Tennant (as the Doctor) on location for Planet of the Dead (2009) in Dubai. This was the first story to be entirely recorded in high definition
One of the characteristics of vintage Doctor Who is a distinct difference in picture quality when actors venture beyond the television studio. In many episodes, the crisp, electronic image familiar from interior scenes gives way to a grainier, more organic representation of outdoor scenes. So why did this happen?
The answer lies with the way in which television evolved. When the BBC began its television service in 1932, cameras were cumbersome objects that needed to be attached to umbilical cables. For the most part, this meant they stayed firmly within the studio.