The building Television Centre, London

1 building

1.1 circular shape
1.2 design
1.3 studios

1.3.1 studio 0
1.3.2 studio 1
1.3.3 studio 2
1.3.4 studio 3
1.3.5 studio 4
1.3.6 studio 5
1.3.7 studio 6
1.3.8 studio 7
1.3.9 studio 8
1.3.10 studio 9
1.3.11 studio 10
1.3.12 studio 11
1.3.13 studio 12
1.3.14 pres a
1.3.15 pres b
1.3.16 news studios


1.4 infrastructure
1.5 listed status

the building

studio tc1 @ bbc television centre



panoramic view of centre of building, showing statue of helios, greek god of sun


circular shape

the building featured central circular block (officially known main block, referred staff doughnut ) around studios, offices, engineering areas , news centre. in centre of main block statue designed t.b. huxley-jones of helios, greek god of sun, symbolise radiation of television around world. @ foot of statue 2 reclining figures, symbolising sound , vision, components of television. fountain, owing building s unique shape noisy staff in overlooking offices, , there problems water leakage videotape area directly beneath. though there foundation stone marked bbc 1956 in basement of main building, construction began in 1951. various extensions have been added.

increasingly bbc had seek accommodation elsewhere, such nearby bbc white city complex comprising white city one, 25,000 square metre office building, , adjacent broadcast , media centres. migration of staff , functions complexes in salford , london w1, white city 1 mothballed in march 2013.

design

the overall design air appeared resemble question mark in shape. architect, graham dawbarn cbe (norman & dawbarn), drew question mark on envelope (now held bbc written archives centre) while thinking design of building, , realised ideal shape site. article in bbc quarterly, july 1946, proposed circular design, several years before dawbarn drew plans.

the building commissioned in 1949 work starting in 1950. government restrictions on building, through loan sanction , licensing of materials, ensured building halted until 1953 bbc remodelled former gaumont studios @ lime grove, riverside studios in hammersmith , in 1953, shepherd s bush empire. work resumed in 1953 on tvc scenery block (stage 1) , work began in 1954 on canteen block (stage 2), doubled rehearsal space.

work on stage 3, central circular office block , studios, began in march 1955 on tc4, 5 , 2. shells of tc1, tc6 , tc7 constructed around same time not fitted out until few years later. bbc television centre officially opened tc3 operational on 29 june 1960.

arthur hayes worked on building 1956 1970 , responsible creation of iconic bbc television centre lettering on façade of studio 1. lettering later used on building, in tile work outside lift entrances. demands broadcasting house meant hayes had less time had thought design decor façade, leading him puncturing scale foam model of wall drawing pins, , birth of iconic atomic dots : there 26 across façade of studio 1, each 1 backlit , visible @ night.

studios

the centre s studios run bbc studios , post production (now renamed bbc studioworks), wholly owned commercial subsidiary. studios numerous , varying in size. studios abbreviated initials, such tc1 (television centre 1) studio 1.

the studios hosted wide variety of tv programmes range of broadcasters, including strictly come dancing, harry hill s tv burp, match of day, later... jools holland, miranda, alan titchmarsh show, armstrong , miller show , 8 out of 10 cats, , big complex live productions such children in need , comic relief. on years home of world s famous tv programmes including fawlty towers, monty python s flying circus, blue peter, absolutely fabulous, classic doctor , of best known bbc drama series. 1980s use of complex such productions rapidly declined last major drama series shot there being house of eliott, ended in 1994, , last single drama recorded henry iv, part 1, in 1995. because drama production moved entirely onto film or single-camera video, , television centre video-based, multi-camera production environment.

at 19:00 on 22 march 2013, special edition of 1 show broadcast front of television centre followed building s last live broadcast madness live: goodbye television centre , special programming mark end of bbc @ tvc, official last day @ end of month.

in april 2013 campaign started keep studios tc1 tc8 open.

studio 0

117 square metres (1260 ft²)

opened in 1989, productions included uk play , during later life equipped producing virtual reality programmes. home liquid news between 2000 , 2002 , cbeebies in vision continuity between 2002 , 2008. after used bbc research. studio demolished part of redevelopment of television centre.

studio 1

995 square metres (10,250 ft²)

opened on 15 april 1964 , fourth largest television studio in britain (following fountain studios studio a&b, mediacityuk s studio 1 , maidstone studios studio 5), , equipped hdtv production (as studio four, studio 6 , studio eight). has reopened on 1 september 2017. used shows such jonathan ross show, strictly come dancing, star family fortunes, star mr & mrs, graham norton show , ant & dec s saturday night takeaway.

studio 2

223 square metres (2,400 ft²)

opened in late 1960, housed comedy programmes such week was. not converted colour , closed in 1969, space being used storage, reopened in 1981. used bbc news until moved in 1997, , has played host sport , children s department. main studio used blue peter 2007 , 2008 series. vacated following move of both departments mediacityuk. has reopened on 1 september 2017. used solely morning britain , morning on itv, reside here while london studios redeveloped.

studio 3

594 square metres (6,390 ft²)

opened on 29 june 1960. designed drama studio , had panels , fittings made customised. walls thicker in attempt insulate noise hammersmith & city line of london underground. housed first programme first studio completed. upgraded colour in 1969. reopened on 1 september 2017 , used light entertainment shows such piers morgan s life stories, peston on sunday, have got news you, alongside loose women , lorraine.

studio 4

585 square metres (6,300 ft²)

opened in january 1961, tc4 similar in design , layout neighbour, tc3. designed light entertainment studio , contained rather unusual sound system called ambiophony. upgraded colour in 1970 , hd , surround sound in 2008. home many bbc sitcoms , talk show friday night jonathan ross. studio demolished during redevelopment of television centre.

programmes recorded or transmitted included:

studio 5

223 square metres (2,400 ft²)

opened in august 1961, used first half of life broadcasts bbc schools. there adjacent area used schools programming linked in studio. converted colour around 1973, same time schools broadcasts whole. closed briefly during mid-1980s, , reopened in 1987 following two-year refurbishment. home of bbc sport s programmes until 2012 when sports department moved mediacityuk. studio demolished during redevelopment of television centre.

programmes recorded or transmitted included:

studio 6

598 square metres (6,440 ft²)

opened in july 1967 coincide bbc 2 s switch colour. first equipped colour cameras. strange design: designed split in 2 large removable wall, idea abandoned. gallery moved in 1993 , old gallery became home bbc red button control room. upgraded hd in july 2010, first 3d capable studio in uk. home children s programmes live & kicking , dick , dom in da bungalow, , pointless. studio demolished during redevelopment of television centre.

programmes recorded or transmitted included:

studio 7

223 square metres (2,400 ft²)

opened in 1962 , used variety of programmes. home children s programming such going live!, before being home bbc news in 1997. home of bbc breakfast programme until 2012 , bbc news @ 6 bulletin until 2013, other bulletins based @ n6 in news centre. vacated on 15 march 2013, following refit of extension broadcasting house, bbc news department , newsroom moved. studio demolished during redevelopment of television centre.

programmes recorded or transmitted included:

studio 8

602 square metres (6,480 ft²)

opened in 1967, noted best studio television producers use. size programmes wanted and, building on experience when building other studios, best. galleries , studios laid out , in layout producers liked. became studio comedy , sitcoms, because of audience seating arrangements , size. converted hd in january 2007. studio demolished during redevelopment of television centre.

programmes recorded or transmitted included:

studio 9

84 square metres (900 ft²)

built in 1955 foyer area of restaurant block, becoming store area, converted studio in 1996 children s bbc. location highly convenient: allowed invision continuity relocated broom cupboard (continuity announcer s booth) roomier studio. opened onto blue peter garden allowing presentation take place there. odd shape, , used invision continuity cbbc until 2004, when broadcast links cbbc channel only. invision continuity dropped in 2006, , used programmes such sam & mark s tmi friday , smart. studio demolished during redevelopment of television centre.

studio 10

111 square metres (1200 ft²)

built n1 in 1969, used bbc1 daytime news bulletins, , home of bbc world (previously bbc world service news) 1993. closed in spring 1999 when news bulletins moved news centre section of television centre, , renamed tc10. used programmes channel uk play until station s closure. between 2004 , 2006 used invision continuity cbbc on bbc 1 , bbc two, before being used programming cbbc such level up. 2010 2011 home of cbeebies. studio demolished during redevelopment of television centre.

studio 11

186 square metres (2000 ft²)

built n2 in 1969, used bbc2 daytime news bulletins. extended in 1985 include props store , adjacent lobby, became home 6 o clock , 9 o clock news. in spring 1999, following completion of news centre spur of television centre, news moved out , renamed tc11. in 2002 became home liquid news , later other bbc 3 news programmes 60 seconds , 7 o clock news. briefly played host domestic bbc news bulletins while studios refurbished in 2006, before becoming general purpose. home strictly come dancing: takes 2 until december 2011. studio demolished during redevelopment of television centre.

studio 12

56 square metres (600 ft²)

originally music store, converted studio in 2004 cbbc programmes. used sportsround years, converted presentation studio in 2006. used invision continuity cbbc , changed invision continuity studio in summer 2007. set transferred mini studio in east tower. used bbc research studio demolished during redevelopment of television centre.

pres a

65 square metres (704 ft²)

opened in 1960, designed in-vision continuity bbc 1, used such 3 years. became weather studio prior move bbc weather centre in 1990 (also in television centre), following used children s bbc supplement presentation broom cupboard , , used slots such birthdays , public holidays. became full-time home of children s bbc in 1994 following vacation of broom cupboard . closed following cbbc s move tc9 , converted office space.

pres b

65 square metres (704 ft²)

opened in 1964, designed in-vision continuity bbc 2, did not use in-vision continuity more few months after launch. became general purpose studio housing small productions such points of view, film series barry norman , old grey whistle test. closed in 1996 , converted office space.

news studios

in addition these studios, bbc news used number of studios frequent news bulletins. these studios have different naming system owing permanent usage , not included on studio lists, unavailable hire.

n1 – bbc 1 daytime bulletins. became tc10
n2 – bbc 2 daytime bulletins. became tc11
n3 – small studio off main newsroom, before being made part of newsroom, separated glass panels.
n4 – studio, became part of bbc club bar
n5 – studio bbc arabic television service, closed in 1996. storeroom until 2001 when used bbci service, 2007 home click prior move broadcasting house in 2012.
n6 – formerly home bbc news @ one, bbc news @ ten , bbc news channel.
n7 – name not used, avoid confusion tc7, housed big news programmes such bbc breakfast, working lunch, , newsnight.
n8 – home bbc world news prior move broadcasting house in 2013, , bbc news channel 1999 2008. bbc news channel still used studio allow bbc news @ ten rehearse in n6 until 2013
n9 – home bbc world news until 2008, used contingency when n6/n8 unavailable due technical work , election coverage
n10 – formerly used bbc 3 produce 60 seconds

these studios located in stage 6 or commonly known bbc news centre. bbc news moved out of stage 6 in 2013 new bbc news centre @ new broadcasting house in central london. after redevelopment, stage 6 became new home commercial arm of bbc, bbc worldwide.

infrastructure

in february 1996, electricity , heating transferred european gas turbines (egt) 4.9mwe typhoon gas turbine combined heating, power , cooling unit. included 6mw thermax air conditioning (cooling) vapour absorption machine (vam). £6m hvac system reduced energy costs 35%, , paid within 3 years. second turbine added, without second chimney. however, in 2008 bbc admitted energy system being used emergency purposes had become cost-ineffective use full-time. excess electricity produced @ night has not been returned national grid, planned. in november 2003, turbine s chimneys caught fire, bringing tv output halt. after fire turbines no longer used regularly.

listed status

the development of westfield shopping centre nearby led sharp rise in property prices , placed television centre under threat. in february 2008, amendment in november, english heritage requested listed status scenery workshop, canteen block adjoining blue peter garden, , central building. previously, under longstanding deal between bbc , english heritage building not listed allow bbc make changes necessary in broadcasting centre. in return, bbc agreed if left, fabric of building restored mid-60s state, , english heritage list notable features.

on 17 june 2009 central ring of building , studio 1, noting in particular john piper mosaic, central drum mosaic tiles, huxley-jones gilded statue of helios, full-height glazing of stair , original clock in central ring, received grade ii listed status department culture, media , sport. atomic dots , name of studio 1, , cantilevered porch on exterior noted important architectural features of building. department did not consider other buildings, including other studios, scenery block , canteen of sufficient special interest warrant listing. making protection announcement, architecture minister barbara follett noted doctor who, fawlty towers , blue peter made: has been torture chamber politicians, , endless source of first-class entertainment nation—sometimes both @ same time.