BBC defends 'Doctor Who Confidential' trip

The BBC has defended its decision to fly Matt Smith to Venice for an episode of Doctor Who Confidential.

In tomorrow's Doctor Who, the Doctor and his companion Amy (Karen Gillan) travel to the Italian city.

The show was filmed in Croatia, but Smith was flown to Venice to make Doctor Who Confidential.

The programme's makers were later accused by an unnamed source of wasting money but a BBC spokesperson has now issued a robust defence of the programme.

The representative told DS that the show had stuck to its "modest budget" and explained that the documentary was about Venice so could not be made anywhere else.

The spokesperson added that Doctor Who Confidential is "fantastically popular" with its audience and praised the strand for explaining the history of Venice to a young audience.

"Matt Smith made a short visit to Venice for Doctor Who Confidential to bring viewers a history of the city and to tell the story and inspiration behind the Doctor Who episode it follows," the representative said. "Unlike a drama, an historical film about Venice can't be recreated in Croatia."

Doctor Who continues tomorrow at 6pm on BBC One and is followed by Doctor Who Confidential at 7pm on BBC Three.