please empty your brain below
If you were nodding along to today's post, know that we can never be friends.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 13.04.18 - 7:00 a.m. | #

And pretty much exclusively ITV as they’ve got a long term lease on two of the three studios...

Oh the irony.

Kirk | 13.04.18 - 7:25 a.m. | #

While it’s somewhat upsetting to see the BBC’s presence at TVC reduced to such a small section, I have to hand it to the developers for doing a good job on the designs for its replacement - it looks lovely. Having unrestricted access to the courtyard space is great for architecture lovers and BBC lovers alike.

I think it also shows people’s love for the BBC that they’re willing to pay such a premium over other local new developments for the apartments. I like to hope that’s why, anyway.

Matthew | 13.04.18 - 7:27 a.m. | #

My respect for the BBC - maintained over many years - is in crisis. What on earth has possessed them to think broadcasting the full Enoch Powell speech is appropriate?
Another example - why does one MEP, who has failed to attend virtually every vote on fishing policy, get invited into news programmes without fail - yet other MEPs (who actually take part in debates and advance Britain's case) are never invited to participate.
I fear the moral compass at the beeb is having a severe wobble.

IslandDweller | 13.04.18 - 7:35 a.m. | #

I dunno, as developments go these days, it looks quite good to me. The look of TV Centre has been retained, and now the public can enjoy it to some extent in a way they couldn't before. When I heard about the development, I did think it'd be nice if it could be retained wholly for the public, but I never really worked out how they could do so and still produce something of value. At least to me, the flats and offices seem "useful".

I don't know if I've been softened by years of awful developments desecrating areas, and maybe I'm missing an important point somewhere, but I get the feeling it could've been a helluva lot worse. And, for the record, I too have a lot of respect for the Beeb and enjoy much of their programming output.

Medford | 13.04.18 - 7:52 a.m. | #

Kirk posted above that ITV are taking a long term lease on 2 of the new studios.
ITV themselves are redeveloping their Southbank studios site losing most of the studio space and building a 31 floor apartment block. So they probably need the space at the old television centre more than the BBC do.
It looks like a nice redevelopment and good that the site is now accessible. Had I known of the opening event I would have gone. Thanks for the photos.
http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/9526

John | 13.04.18 - 7:52 a.m. | #

Unfortunately, I suspect a lot of readers will take your post seriously, & think you've been paid off by Murdoch/Breitbart.

| 13.04.18 - 7:53 a.m. | #

Wasn't Television Centre killed off by technology?, the cameras could go to the locations, instead of the locations coming to the cameras, so much less need for studio space, less need for the studio space meant less need for the office space.

Still Anon | 13.04.18 - 7:59 a.m. | #

Sorry DG, but having reflected on your write up, and notwithstanding your seed comment (unusual in itself) I have the feeling that there is a touch of admiration for this sensitive redevelopment of an iconic site.

Perhaps a move is in the offing, to somewhere in the vicinity. After all the Olympic Park infrastructure development is all but complete, as are the transport works in and around Bow.

In and around Oak Common is where it's next going to happen, and will keep you busy for the next 15+ years. I look forward to your post in five years v time, a three hour walk south of White City.

Ken | 13.04.18 - 8:01 a.m. | #

The mistakes that led to the abandonment of the best-designed television studio centre in the UK started at the end of the 1980s when 'Visions' and 'Mission Statements' were all the rage.

Harried by politicians and certain newspapers, there were successive management attempts to make the BBC more 'commercial' and more 'relevant to the whole of the UK', culminating in the act of hari-kari in W12.

Only after Director General Mark Thomson had left was it realised that a mistake had been made (but by then it was too late).

On a lighter note, and for all fans of whistling, I wonder if the North Hall Staircase (behind Main Reception) still retains its wonderful reverberation? Stand on the second floor landing, whistle, and you could be in a vast concert hall.

RayL | 13.04.18 - 8:08 a.m. | #

Has the property world gone bonkers? Following the link to 'flats' it appears £760k (plus c£350/month ground rent and service charge) will buy you a 'compact duplex flat'with 20 ft by 12ft living area/kitchen. A shoebox sized maisonette I would call that. To escape the claustrophobia, there are all the wonderful facilities to be shared with other pseuds and hipsters. Ughhhhh!

J | 13.04.18 - 8:18 a.m. | #

Television rots the mind, as evidenced by people's attitude to the BBC, its worship is yet another secular religion, along with the NHS and the EU.

If the BBC is so fantastic and such good value for money, why are its worshipers so afraid of alternatives such as pay per view, surely those wonderful programmes would rake in ££££.

Max Roberts | 13.04.18 - 8:40 a.m. | #

Fantastic (piece).

J - yes. Can you imagine living with all those dreadful people?

Is there an "affordable" element, or has it been off-sited to some freight yard up at Willesden Junction?

Lorenzo | 13.04.18 - 8:50 a.m. | #

And those nice people at Auntie are now so firmly 'told' that we need never need worry about them failing to conform strictly to (Tory) Party lines again ......

Brian | 13.04.18 - 9:07 a.m. | #

Flat White City.
Nothankyouverymuch.

obligatory | 13.04.18 - 9:12 a.m. | #

I can still remember the first time - as a BBC employee - I went into TV Centre. It just felt magical. I was visiting the Weather team, walking passed people doing a tour some of whom looked at me expectantly in case I was some famous presenter (they were to be disappointed!)

Whilst I never worked in there, over the years I got to visit the continuity studios, walk behind George Alagiah, and peer through a window looking down into a studio and see what turned out to be "Hole In The Wall" being filmed. The BBC Club had a bar with a rooftop terrace and it was a great place to sit out on on a summers evening.

To give a purely personal view, it feels so wrong what's happened to TV Centre. It's such an iconic building - such an integral part of organisation. The BBC is - of course - more than the sum of its buildings. But TV Centre was like the heart of it.

Still, at least some of the studios have survived.

Andrew Bowden | Homepage | 13.04.18 - 11:59 a.m. | #

Almost a W1A episode!

John Simmons | 13.04.18 - 12:48 p.m. | #

"Yes, there are still three TV studios on site, where ITV and other commercial broadcasters will share what used to be an exclusively proletarian site. " - worth noting that for quite a number of the final years the BBC rented these studios out to other operators so many non-bbc shows were filmed there.

richard | 13.04.18 - 1:04 p.m. | #

I went to see a pilot show in one of studios a few weeks ago. It was very cold queuing for over an hour , the show was long and not very good. The only good thing was that we were told that Top of the Pops used to be recorded in the same studio.

Cornish Monkey | 13.04.18 - 1:17 p.m. | #

Of course it's more expensive now... just take a look at the before and after photographs...

Colour is WAY more expensive than black and white.

Uncle Audrey | 13.04.18 - 2:12 p.m. | #

I thought that the BP Garden had been incorporated into Hammersmith Park behind the site?

One of the few delicious features of the destruction of the complex is the replacement of the True Blue original cladding with Lefty Red beaming out across west London for many years to come.

I really can't imagine why anyone would want to live there at those prices. The flats looking into the donut would have little privacy and be pretty noisy. Handy though if you like attending TV recordings.

The views from the top flats at the west side would be pretty spectacular.

drD | Homepage | 13.04.18 - 2:41 p.m. | #

drD - the Blue Peter Garden was moved to MediaCity in Salford. It's next to the Metrolink tram stop and open to the public. They moved much of the London garden there when Blue Peter moved.

Where the TV Centre version was was going to be an entrance to Hammersmith Park. Whether it's open yet I don't know.

Andrew Bowden | Homepage | 13.04.18 - 2:52 p.m. | #

Leftist propaganda? The BBC?
I like a lot of their programming (NOT the Saturday night "reality" abhorrences, I hasten to add) but the irony flag is waving wildly at that statement!

Like others, I think what they've done is very pleasing on the eye, even if not the pocket!

Cornish Cockney | 13.04.18 - 4:23 p.m. | #

Regarding a commentator mentioning Murdoch, IMHO readers with normal comprehension skills should be able to identify the satirical nature of the article before finishing the first few sentences.

Patrickov | 13.04.18 - 7:05 p.m. | #

Had the great pleasure of sitting in the audience for a Monty Python recording at TC.

I was about to write more about that but it doesn't need further description.

Pimlico Pete | 13.04.18 - 7:22 p.m. | #

Lorenzo: Apparently the affordable element will be built on the site of the yet-to-be-demolished multi-storey car park.

I worked at TVC for about five years - it's true that much of it was in need of refurbishment (there were a lot of grotty offices there), though there was certainly still plenty of life in the old dog. Will be interested to pop down and have a nosey around.

martin | 13.04.18 - 7:48 p.m. | #

Andrew Bowden

Thanks yes, I was referring to the area of ground at TVC occupied by the original BP Garden. I'd understood it would be linked up with the park. Presumably this will create quite a nice through route. I recall also that there was a walking route along the north edge of the TVC site that exited onto Wood Lane. I think it was secured back in the day. Must check out the new layout.

drD | Homepage | 13.04.18 - 9:01 p.m. | #

The original Blue Peter Garden got dismantled and turfed over, then dug up.

Looking at the latest map of Television Centre, displayed around the site, I strongly suspect the location is now flats.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 13.04.18 - 9:16 p.m. | #

Of course there have always been many things wrong with the BBC.

But given the wonderful good bits which it has also had through the years, surely the right response is to FIX the faults, not walk away and leave the field open for its commercial rivals - which have in any case always had more of the same faults, and worse.

Now what other organisation have we also decided to walk away from, instead of fixing the faults?

Malcolm | 13.04.18 - 9:33 p.m. | #

I don't understand the irony here. Moving the BBC to Manchester is a great thing for the entire country, including revitalising parts of the country outside of London. However, the implication of the article is that this is a terrible thing.

I am also concerned about some of the comments above ("Can you imagine living with all those dreadful people"). Someone is a dreadful person for owning a flat in London in the old BBC building? Seems rather a leap of logic.

Messiah | 14.04.18 - 9:31 a.m. | #

I visited last year. A nice touch was the finish line for the 1948 Olympics marked on the floor.

Peter

dg writes: The finishing line for the 1908 marathon is marked just up the road in White City.

PeterB | 14.04.18 - 10:29 a.m. | #

I don’t think i’d like to be friends with someone who is so sneering towards people who aren’t like him.

Tony | 14.04.18 - 8:40 p.m. | #

Behind the times here I'm afraid. Currently Corbynistas think the BBC is Tory dominated and think a large chunk of the news team need to be fired or fairly reflect Jeremey's views. Plus Adonis thinks that the BBC is the centre of a pro Brexit Cabal!!!

rational plan | 14.04.18 - 9:20 p.m. | #

Agree with you, Tony. Spite is common place on this blog. He can’t help himself.

Mark | 16.04.18 - 4:46 a.m. | #











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