Doctor Who - BBC

Pianoz.com was delighted to supply several pianos for the long-running BBC series Doctor Who, including instruments featured in the acclaimed episode "The Devil's Chord". As with many television productions, the challenge extended far beyond simply providing a piano that looked right on camera. The production required multiple matching instruments, with some needing to remain fully playable while others were destined for extensive modification to accommodate the show's ambitious special effects.

One of the most unusual requirements involved sourcing identical pairs of pianos. For many scenes, the audience sees what appears to be a single instrument, but behind the scenes two near-identical pianos were used. One piano was carefully prepared as a functioning musical instrument, while its twin was modified by the special effects team to allow for dramatic visual sequences. Matching the appearance, finish and dimensions of each pair was essential to ensure continuity throughout filming and maintain the illusion on screen.

The most memorable challenge came during the episode's unforgettable introduction of the villainous Maestro. In one spectacular scene, the character appears to emerge directly through the centre of a grand piano. Achieving this effect required extensive customisation, including cutting a large opening through the piano's structure, soundboard and strings to create enough space for the performer and special effects team. While it is never easy for piano lovers to see an instrument undergo such drastic surgery, the final result was a remarkable piece of television that perfectly captured the surreal and musical chaos at the heart of The Devil's Chord. We were thrilled to play a small part in bringing one of the episode's most iconic moments to life.