Television Centre History

Former DG Greg D**e (D**e, 2005, p. 211) supported John Birt’s vision for the BBC to be the ‘best managed public sector organisation in the world’.

It was confirmed that the connection at TVC with broadcasting would be maintained when Price (2013) reported that the BBC was not vacating the site for good and that studios 1 to 3 and the former news offices would be leased back by the corporation. This has since been supported by the decision of ITV to move its flagship weekday and weekend programmes to the complex.

Foster (2014) on his website dedicated to Doctor Who locations says that 'The Daleks' Master Plan' was filmed on 25 Oct 1965. In a scene for the episode entitled 'The Feast of Steven', the TARDIS 'lands at Lords Cricket Ground'. On this occasion, Hammersmith Park doubled as the cricket ground. Sadly, according to the author, the episode does not exist in the archives and there are no known photographs from the location production. Whilst I have found little academic evidence of this so far, I think it would not be unreasonable to assume that the park would have been used often by the BBC for location work whenever producers needed a few trees, pond or some grass for the background of the shot.

Why did the BBC decommission TVC? Were Tory cuts (actual or just threatened) to blame for the disposal of a building which was considered by many to be at the heart of the nation's cultural identity? It was reported by Reuters on July 16, 2012 that the BBC had 'sold its Television Centre complex in the White City area of London to developer Stanhope for about 200 million pounds, as the broadcaster cuts costs amid a funding freeze'. Could a budget black-hole really be the main reason for disposal?

The famous circle-shaped outdoor area of TVC was referred to by many BBC staff, including Sir Terry Wogan, as the 'doughnut'. (McCann, 2010)

On the closure of TVC, Sir Terry Wogan said: "I know it's only a building. I know it's an inanimate object and it doesn't have a heart....But it has a spirit. There are spirits here, of immensely talented, brilliant people who made some of the best television programmes ever seen and I think it's a shame. It's a shame to close it down." (Masters, 2013)

On Terry Wogan's public opposition to the sale of TVC, Lord Grade said 'Then let him pay for the repairs...The economics no longer support it, it is in disrepair. When I was chairman of the BBC we were forever sanctioning bills for sticking plaster to keep this thing going. It was state-of-the art but it’s well past its sell-by date.' (Sherwin, 2013)

23 February 2020 - The weekend that I stayed at TVC just happened to coincide with the launch of the new series of Saturday Night Takeaway. I was able to observe rehearsals for the best part of two days.

Christmas 2019