Fantastic almost haunting film. No boots, no hat and yes plenty of work. What a fantastic building and it delivered. Through the sixties and 70s the best telly on the planet came out of this building, partly because it was so beautifully designed it gave the perfect facility for the creators and producers to out put wonderful TV programmes. Who in their right mind would have sold of this production masterpiece to housing, when it obviously had years of media production left in it. Oh, this film would not be allowed anywhere near the current BBC schedule.. Too many men in it!
My dad was a carpenter on this building. We lived just a five minute walk away, just off Wood Lane. Our junior school sports were held in the old White City stadium, on the famous red cinder track. R (Australia)
The site was originally part of the exhibition of 1908 where there were 20 constructed palaces and other exhibition buildings. Some of the original floor tiles are tucked away behind the abandoned TC1.
ITV have been using the three remainig studios since they closed their studios on the Southbank at Waterloo. Their morning progrsmmes are broadcast from there.
In terms of safety, building sites half a century ago look like a whole different world. No hard hats at all, some guys without proper boots, and in one scene what looks like a guy carrying searing hot pitch in a bucket with no gloves - and no shirt!
Search for the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, they would have been in charge of sounds! They were also responsible for the sound effects in Doctor Who - there's a couple of interesting documentaries knocking around if you have a look. I remember one shot of them making a sound out of a metal lampshade! Delia Derbyshire is also a good name to search for, she was instrumental (no pun intended) in the Workshop.
With the Money we paid for a Licence then, I would have though some of the Money would have gone towards upkeep and redevelopment of the original Building. When it was closed, it looked time licked in the 1960's. But people are up in Arms about part of it been demolished to make way for Offices and Homes. That is called progress. As to the BBC leasing back 2 Studios, it is valled renting. After all, they sold the whole site for redvelopment. May BBC World will eventually permantly to Broadcasting House in Central London?
I was privileged to work here for many years what a great building and what a waste to see it being turned into apartments. It was/is the best layout for it's purpose there is nothing like it anywhere in the television world. Somebody should have been hanged for letting this happen. With the move to Salford (face palm) and new Bush House refurb they were well out of pocket and have lost a beautiful, practical functional icon of British history. Thanks to all the consultants who said it would help put money back into BBC coffers,,, ahh it didn't really do that did it, quite sure they all got paid though.
As can be seen. A total waste of time building the complex, as greedy bbc didn’t have a crystal ball. What the new Stanhope crowd should have done when they acquired the site when sold, was too demolished the entire complex.
