Noticeboard for former BBC staff. Local Radio Desks - Mark III. 1950's British Radio Nostalgia. History of television studios in London. An unreliable and wholly unofficial history of BBC Television Centre... ...with grateful thanks to several current and ex BBC staffers who have passed some fascinating documents and other information to me. photo thanks to Peter Sumpter contents of this web page... overview early plans stage 1 (scenery block) stage 2 (restaurant block and TC9) stage 3 (TC2, TC3, TC4, TC5) videotape and telerecording presentation area puppet studio/video effects workshop opening TC1, TC7, TC6 (a potted history of early colour cameras) stage 4 (the spur including TC8, TC10, TC11) the television rehearsal rooms stage 5 (including TC0 and TC12) stage 6 (including the studio that never was) programmes studio summary the final few years the future the costs opinions on the closure An Overview Firstly, TC or TVC? Now let's get on with the history...
Of all the TV studio centres in the UK, Television Centre was by far the largest. Its statistics are pretty extraordinary. Almost inevitably, this problem re-emerged in 2006. Watch TV Online - TV Shows - Series, Episodes, Seasons - SideReel. Links. Tech Ops History Home Page. History of television studios in London. Early Plans As soon as the war was over the BBC knew they would need to build a 'television centre'. They acquired Lime Grove Studios and shortly afterwards the Shepherds Bush Empire (Television Theatre) and Riverside Studios but these were stop-gaps and the intention was to move all television production into this new purpose built centre. A site of 13 acres, previously occupied by part of the Franco-British Exhibition was bought shortly after the war. This 140 acre exhibition had consisted of several highly ornate pavilions all faced in white which came to give this area of London just north of Shepherds Bush the name 'White City.' Following the original exhibition and - let us not forget!
- the 1908 Olympic Games, the buildings hosted several other exhibitions and expositions. The original White City. The story of how architect Graham Dawbarn came up with the design is well documented but I'll repeat it anyway. This is the story that all visitors to TV Centre are told.