Boom operator

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Set of The Daleks with the boom microphone overhead.

Boom operators hold, control or operate the overhead boom microphone, usually mounted on a pole (also known as a boom pole). The boom microphone is the primary method of sound recording on a television and film recording set both in studio and on-location.

As of 2018, series 5 was the last series of Doctor Who to consistently credit boom operators on episodes. From then on, many of the same crew members became sound maintenance engineers.

Series 5 uniquely credited both roles. The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe is the only episode since 2010 to still credit a boom operator.

Doctor Who

Series 1

• Damian Richardson

Series 2

• Jeff Welch
• Rhydian Yeoman
• Bryn Thomas
• James Drummond

Series 3

• Jon Thomas
• Jeff Welch
• Bryn Thomas
• Jillian Speed

Series 4

• Jeff Welch
• Bryn Thomas
• Kevin Staples

2009 specials

• Glen Jenkins
• Patrick O'Boyle
• Jeff Welch
• Bryn Thomas

Series 5

• Dafydd Parry

Series 7

• Paul Naughton (2011 Christmas only)

Torchwood

Series 1

• Jeff Welch
• Kevin Staples
• Tam Shoring
• James Drummond

Series 3

• Jeff Welch

The Sarah Jane Adventures

Series 2

• Jeff Welch

Series 3

• Kevin Staples

Series 4

• Jeff Welch
• Beverley Gerard

Series 5

• Jeff Welch