A commercial subsidiary of the BBC, BBC Studioworks has re-opened the studio doors to the ‘home of British television’ with three studios and postproduction facilities on the site of London’s Television Centre.

Opened in 1960 as the largest TV production facility of its kind in the world at the time, Television Centre has been undergoing major redevelopment works since 2012 when it was sold by the BBC to property company, Stanhope.

The new facilities are the centrepiece of what promises to be a vibrant and creative media quarter in London’s White City. The premises are now a mixed-use development, and the studios sit alongside a number of outlets expected to serve production crews, audiences and on-screen talent – including a Soho House club and hotel, a gym and spa, an array of restaurants and bars, as well as a boutique cinema.

The Studioworks facilities will host productions from all the major broadcasters and production companies, with ITV1’s The Jonathan Ross Show the first production to be recorded. The popular chat show started its 12-episode run the night before the official opening, and will run weekly until November. Also booked for the autumn are the BBC One quiz show, Pointless, and the Strictly Come Dancing companion show, It Takes Two. These two shows will account for over 120 episodes of television produced between late September and mid-December. Other confirmed shows include a brand new production for Sky – The Russell Howard Hour.

Across the three studios, Television Centre provides more than 22,000-sq-ft. of shooting space, as well as new postproduction facilities, all served by an array of flexible technical and support areas. The revamped TC1, TC2 and TC3 studios range in size, and can accommodate all genres and styles of programming, from sitcoms and panel shows, to major entertainment and event shows – both live and pre-recorded. The facility boasts a range of new technologies to the benefit of Studioworks’ clients, with major investments made in equipment ranging from 4K studio cameras to the latest in gallery control desks, helping to make Television Centre an industry-leading production hub.

From 2018, thefacility will also become the temporary home to ITV Studios’ daytime shows, Good Morning Britain, Lorraine, This Morning and Loose Women. These shows are relocating from ITV’s London HQ during the redevelopment of the site, and will be hosted in studios TC2 and TC3, live on weekday mornings.

‘It really is an exciting prospect to see Television Centre back as the production hub for the nation’s favourite programmes, and we expect to see TVC re-emerge as the production community’s favourite place to make TV,’ says BBC Studioworks MD, David Conway, ‘While some may get nostalgic about the re-opening, this really is a new Television Centre, set up for the future with leading-edge technologies, flexible facilities and a fantastic team running it. Having a range of independent bars, restaurants, a gym and spa, a cinema and a members’ club on our doorstep is also proving a great draw for production teams.’

The re-introduction of Television Centre into the market represents an expansion for Studioworks and bolsters its existing studio and postproduction presence in Elstree, which is spread across the Elstree Studios and BBC Elstree sites. ‘Elstree has been a big success story for Studioworks, and has provided the springboard to grow into Television Centre,’ Conway adds. ‘Having multiple London locations provides choice for the production community with varying studio configurations and technologies available. There really is a bright future for TV at each of Elstree and Television Centre.’

More: www.bbcstudioworks.com