BBC Television Centre: Your Views

[ryan125hst]

With BBC Television Centre broadcasting for the last time tonight and set to close by the end of the month, I wondered what your views are on its closure.

Most of the BBC programmes including Blue Peter and Breakfast have already moved to Media City UK. After tonight, BBC News at 1pm, 6pm and 10pm will move to a brand new news room at the refurbished Broadcasting House.

It will close on March 31st and will be turned into flats, a hotel and a cinema. Studios 1, 2 and 3 are to be refurbished and are to reopen at the end of 2014

London's BBC Television Centre is to be developed into a hotel, flats and offices but will also see the broadcaster make programmes in three of its studios.

The £200m development plans for the historic site have revealed the building's forecourt will be opened up to the public.

The main circular building, known to BBC employees as "the doughnut", will become a hotel and apartments.

Studios 1, 2 and 3 will be refitted.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-21338374

Even though I am only 18, I find it sad that Television Centre is closing. It is iconic building that is often shown or mentioned. Who hasn’t seen it all lit up on Children in Need night? I have watched a few videos about Television Centre today and the history inside the building is amazing! It will certainly be sad to see it lost as the “doughnut” is ripped apart when it is refurbished.

Despite this, I appreciate that TV has changed dramatically in the almost 53 years that it has been operating. The new facilities at MediaCityUK and the new news room at Broadcasting House will be modern and offer better facilities than before. We have to move on into the 21st century and, as a lover of technology, I also want to move forward and into the future.

What I want to know is whether they will still show the outside of the building and say that the program is from Television Centre once the studios have reopened. It will be sad if they don’t.

For those who are interested, Tales of Television Centre was broadcast last May and is available on YouTube.

This Friday, Madness will perform outside Television Centre from 7:30pm on BBC 4. This will be followed at 8:30pm by “Goodbye Television Centre”.

Some of the biggest BBC stars of all time will gather for one last time to bid a fond farewell to TVC in Goodbye Television Centre, and celebrate 53 years of history behind the iconic building.


Former BBC Chairman Michael Grade will invite an exciting array of stars of TV and radio to assemble in front of a studio audience, where they will recount their favourite memories as they reminisce about the times they spent at the BBC’s flagship studios, giving us a personal insight into their experiences at TVC. Stars joining him on the sofa include Sir David Attenborough, Penelope Keith, Ronnie Corbett, Meera Syal, Sir Michael Parkinson, Sir Terry Wogan, Sir David Jason, Zoe Ball, Bob Harris, Rebecca Front, David Mitchell, Dara O Briain and Fiona Bruce.

What are your views on the closing of BBC Television Centre?

Ryan

 

[Mojo]

It will close on March 31st and will be turned into flats, a hotel and a cinema. Studios 1, 2 and 3 are to be refurbished and are to reopen at the end of 2014

A cinema?! There are two cinemas within a 5 Min walking distance of TV centre offering a combined 29 screens!

What are your views on the closing of BBC Television Centre?

Much of it (in particular the moving away from London to Salford) is politically motivated and that is a shame. Further moving stuff away from relatively cheap W12 into prime W1 real estate is crackers if the BBC is meant to be saving money! There's also the huge BBC Media Village down the road which was only opened in the early 2000s and a few things still broadcast from there (incl. live The One Show).

It'll turn the area a bit quiet as well, for someone who lives 5 Min walk away and walks past the site several times most days I hope it doesn't bring anything bad with it.

 

[LE Greys]

Funny old place, from what I remember. One of the few modernist buildings that still looks modern, at least on the outside. I've only seen the inside once, went to a recording of Celebrity Mastermind (which my sister got at random) and half the equipment seemed to date back to when they moved over to colour.

Anyone know what's happening to the Blue Peter Garden?

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Anyone know what's happening to the Blue Peter Garden?

Along with George the tortoise who is buried there?

Aha, this might be the answer http://metro.co.uk/2006/11/28/buried-blue-peter-pets-wont-be-dug-up-428035/

Somewhat self-contradictory article (well it is the Metro!) but it does say

But the pets along with a time capsule, which is not due to be opened until 2029, will not be exhumed.

 

[ryan125hst]

A cinema?! There are two cinemas within a 5 Min walking distance of TV centre offering a combined 29 screens!


Much of it (in particular the moving away from London to Salford) is politically motivated and that is a shame. Further moving stuff away from relatively cheap W12 into prime W1 real estate is crackers if the BBC is meant to be saving money! There's also the huge BBC Media Village down the road which was only opened in the early 2000s and a few things still broadcast from there (incl. live The One Show).

It'll turn the area a bit quiet as well, for someone who lives 5 Min walk away and walks past the site several times most days I hope it doesn't bring anything bad with it.

I was going to say that I had noticed the other cinemas when looking at the area on Google Maps earlier on. I was hoping to go and have a look when I go to London in summer, but it's a bit far away from where we are. Then I looked at your location!

I think it's a shame that they are closing it. There's so much history there. Why not refurbish the whole building? Failing that, why are they going to end up all over the place? Breakfast and Blue Peter in Manchester, News at Broadcasting House and then (after 2014) studios at TVC. Would't it have been easier for them to build a new Television Centre in London?

As for the One Show, they are also moving into Broadcasting House in August.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Along with George the tortoise who is buried there?

Aha, this might be the answer http://metro.co.uk/2006/11/28/buried-blue-peter-pets-wont-be-dug-up-428035/

Somewhat self-contradictory article (well it is the Metro!) but it does say

The article is very old though as it dates back to 2006, so who knows what has actually happened!

 

[wintonian]

Classic family entertainment...
[youtube]6QyIjE4W2Ew[/youtube]


and these guys will never get anywhere...
[youtube]eM2l93zXMhk[/youtube]

Kids today would probably be board stiff.

 

[yorksrob]

Ah, the broom cupboard !

Perhaps after they've closed TV Centre they'll rotate all the series around the far flung corners of the country in the manner of 'Why Don't You'

 

[wintonian]

The BBC was good once when as a kid I spent countless saturdays watching the Generation Game or Noels House Party, not to mention Going Live (what ever happened to Sarah Greening?) and then Live and Kicking (with its state of the art graphics)

and why did they ever get rid of the Krypton Factor?, mind you it was rather middle class.

 

[bnm]

what ever happened to Sarah Greening?

Dunno. Never heard of her.

Sarah Greene however pops up occasionally as a talking head on those TV nostalgia type clip shows and has also been seen recently on Pointless (with her husband Mike Smith) and Eggheads.

and why did they ever get rid of the Krypton Factor?

Can't lay the blame on the BBC for that. It was an ITV show, made by Granada Television. It was briefly revived on ITV1 in 2009/10 this time produced by ITV Productions.

 

[Giugiaro]

One of the few modernist buildings that still looks modern, at least on the outside.

That was my thought when I saw the building for the first time. If I was told this building was built around 2002, I wouldn't suspect at all.

 

[wintonian]

Can't lay the blame on the BBC for that. It was an ITV show, made by Granada Television. It was briefly revived on ITV1 in 2009/10 this time produced by ITV Productions.

Oh was it.

At least University Challenge is still around and I can actually answer some of the questions occasionally

Here's a classic little gem I just found that I didn't even know existed.
[youtube]0EuI2zU72uo[/youtube]

 

[starrymarkb]

ITV productions is a rebranded Granada.

And from what I can gather one reason the BBC are moving out is the sheer amount of Asbestos in the building (something the new owners are going to have to spend a fortune dealing with)

 

[sheff'd victoria]

I feel sorry for the staff, BBC TVC was right next to White City tube station and now they have a 20 minute walk from Oxford Circus

 

[radamfi]

they have a 20 minute walk from Oxford Circus

Looks like 400 metres from Oxford Circus to Broadcasting House on the map, so not really 20 minutes walk.

 

[Mojo]

I feel sorry for the staff, BBC TVC was right next to White City tube station and now they have a 20 minute walk from Oxford Circus

Looks like 400 metres from Oxford Circus to Broadcasting House on the map, so not really 20 minutes walk.

Yes, a bit of an exaggeration. It's no more than a 3 Min walk from the bullring ticket hall at Oxford Circus (the one actually under the circus). I used to live round the corner (about a 60 second walk from the main entrance) and it never took me more than 5 Min to get home.

 

[Clip]

ITV productions is a rebranded Granada.

And from what I can gather one reason the BBC are moving out is the sheer amount of Asbestos in the building (something the new owners are going to have to spend a fortune dealing with)

Asbestos is fine in a building as long as it doesnt get disturbed - thats when problems arise. You would be surprised how many places still have it , including hospitals, but you dont see them moving.

I dont understand why they have moved fully as has been noted they are moving to somewhere more expensive but I guess the powers that be deem it to be moneysaving somehow.

But life and telly moves on, just a shame they are not getting rid of that awful soap based in a make believe place in East London where they all seem to like a good shout at one another.

 

[wintonian]

I dont understand why they have moved fully as has been noted they are moving to somewhere more expensive but I guess the powers that be deem it to be moneysaving somehow.

Because most of them have gone to Media City where it's theoretically cheaper and for political reasons far away from London.

 

[Clip]

Because most of them have gone to Media City where it's theoretically cheaper and for political reasons far away from London.

But that was only sport and a bit of radio and some news progs like breakfast wasnt it? The BBC is far more than those departments

 

[wintonian]

But that was only sport and a bit of radio and some news progs like breakfast wasnt it? The BBC is far more than those departments

Plus children's TV and the BBC orchestras,I thought more was - maybe not?

 

[bb21]

Here's a classic little gem I just found that I didn't even know existed.

It's private.

 

[wintonian]

It's private.

Well it wasn't yesterday!

I'll have to hunt for another link then.

Edit: I've changed the link now

 

[Requeststop]

Classic family entertainment...
[youtube]6QyIjE4W2Ew[/youtube]


and these guys will never get anywhere...
[youtube]eM2l93zXMhk[/youtube]

Kids today would probably be board stiff.

Kids today would even mis-spell bored too.

My earliest memory of the "fun factory" was the 1963 Eurovision Song Contest. I couldn't Sleep, went downstairs to see my parents watching the show and was allowed to watch it with them and my mother correctly predicted the winning song. Sad isn't it. (and the closing of TVC)

 

[Johnuk123]

Always thought it was quite an ugly building, it should be demolished.

 

[maniacmartin]

I'm sure part of the reason for the news being at Broadcasting House and not Salford is that people that they interview wouldn't be prepared to travel to Salford! Many politicians and such are based in central London, so having a facility there is beneficial

 

[Mojo]

I'm sure part of the reason for the news being at Broadcasting House and not Salford is that people that they interview wouldn't be prepared to travel to Salford! Many politicians and such are based in central London, so having a facility there is beneficial

Indeed look what's happened to 'Breakfast.' The number, and quality, of people actually appearing on the sofa with them has diminished since they moved from London to Salford.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...t-London-Salford-base-attract-stars-show.html

When BBC bosses relocated from London to Salford, critics warned that the corporation’s flagship morning news show would struggle to attract high-profile guests.

...

Among the concerns about the segment, which features celebrity interviews, are that its live guests are not of a high enough calibre.

It was revealed in July that the show, hosted by Bill Turnbull and Susanna Reid, was forced to conduct 12 interviews via video link in one week because guests were based in London.

 

[Butts]

I'm sure part of the reason for the news being at Broadcasting House and not Salford is that people that they interview wouldn't be prepared to travel to Salford! Many politicians and such are based in central London, so having a facility there is beneficial

I quite agree the BBC should be based in London with a bit of "Regional Input" from the sticks.

London is the capital of both England and the UK and as such that is where the BBC should be.

Someone has correctly identified it is a problem gettting guests to travel to Salford - can you blame them !!!!

London is the heart of the Business, Political and Entertainment Worlds in the UK.

As certainly Britain's, probably Europes and possibly the Worlds best Broadcaster it deserves no less.