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BBC Elstree Centre

Coordinates: 51°39′35″N 0°16′29″W / 51.6597°N 0.2747°W / 51.6597; -0.2747
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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Mike Peel (talk | contribs) at 21:26, 8 January 2021 (Removing Commons category link that does not match this article (commons:Category:Elstree Studios) (Commons category belongs at Elstree_Studios)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

For the Shenley Road film & TV studios, see Elstree Studios (Shenley Road).

BBC Elstree Centre
Entrance to complex off Eldon Avenue
BBC Elstree Centre is located in Hertfordshire
BBC Elstree Centre
Location within Hertfordshire
Former namesRock Studios,
British National Studios,
ATV Elstree
Etymologynamed after Elstree village
General information
TypeTelevision production
LocationLocated off Eldon Avenue, in Borehamwood
AddressBBC Elstree Centre,
Eldon Avenue,
Borehamwood,
WD6 1NL
CountryUnited Kingdom
Coordinates51°39′35″N 0°16′29″W / 51.6597°N 0.2747°W / 51.6597; -0.2747
Current tenantsBBC Studioworks
Inaugurated1914
OwnerAssociated Television (ATV) (1958–1983)
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (1984–present)
Website
BBCStudioworks.com

BBC Elstree Centre, sometimes referred to as BBC Elstree Studios,[1] is a television production facility, currently owned by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The complex is located on Eldon Avenue in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire.

This site was the first of several such complexes colloquially referred to as 'Elstree Studios' located in the area. Originally created as a film studio complex, in the late 1950s the site was converted for use as a television studio, becoming the main television production site for Lew Grade's Associated Television (ATV) franchise for the ITV network. After ATV became Central Television in the early 1980s and moved to a new Midlands-based complex, this site was sold to the BBC in 1984. It is currently a main production base for BBC Television, with the television studios being run by the BBC's commercial subsidiary BBC Studioworks, previously known as BBC Studios and Post Production.[1]

The BBC Elstree Centre site includes the external set for the long-running soap opera EastEnders[1] and medical drama Holby City. With the sale and partial demolition of BBC Television Centre in west London, BBC Television's original head office and primary TV production site, Studio D at Elstree has since been utilised for many of the BBC's large studio productions; such as Children in Need,[1] and the BBC's 2015 General Election coverage.

During the 2010s, BBC Studioworks began operating three additional sound stages, newly equipped for television, at the nearby Elstree Studios on Shenley Road.

History

Film studio

The Neptune Film Company opened the first studios in Borehamwood in 1914. It contained just a single 70 feet (21 metres) window-less stage (the first 'dark stage' in England), relying on electricity from a gas-powered generator for lighting. At the time, this was an innovation, as the majority of early films were shot in large glass-roof studios which relied on natural light.[2] It was said that Borehamwood was chosen as it had a good London train service, but was far enough away to avoid the then-regular London pea soup fogs. Production ceased during 1917, and the studio was sold to the Ideal Film Company, who used the site up until 1924.[2]

During 1928, the studio was sold to Ludwig Blattner, who connected it to the electricity mains and introduced a German system of sound recording. The Blattner Studio was leased to Joe Rock Productions during 1934, and two years later it purchased the site.[2] Rock Productions built four new large stages, and began making films, including the drama film The Edge of the World (1937), directed by Michael Powell.[2]

The studios were owned by British National Films Company between 1939 and 1948, although during this period a large portion of the studio was taken over by the British government for war work.[2]

During 1953, the studios were bought by Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., mainly for television production. Early productions included the Douglas Fairbanks Presents series (1953–1957), and a few episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

ATV

The studios were sold to Lew Grade's Associated Television (ATV) in 1958.[2] The original intention of the new owners was to use the facility for production of the affiliated ITC filmed series. The Adventures of William Tell (1958–59) was produced here, but ATV's existing television studios were insufficient for its requirements. A 7.5 acres (3.0 hectares) site on London's South Bank had been purchased, but completion of a wholly new complex would be some years in the future, while the need for more studio space was urgent. As a result, the Eldon Avenue centre was re-equipped as an electronic television complex, and most of ATV's live and recorded shows were made there. The series made by the affiliated ITC, such as The Saint, Gideon's Way, and The Prisoner, were shot on 35mm film at other companies' neighbouring Elstree facilities or elsewhere,[3] mostly at the (Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC) Elstree (Film) Studios, and MGM-British Studios.

Originally, some ATV programmes were made at the Alpha studios in Aston, Birmingham, as ATV had the weekday ITV Midland franchise as well as the weekend London franchise until network changes in 1968. After 1970, programmes such as Crossroads were made at the new Birmingham studios at the ATV Centre. Larger-scale productions, including many drama programmes, continued to be recorded at the Elstree facility for the rest of ATV's existence. In the period of its occupation of the Elstree complex, the smaller Studios A and B were used for schools TV and sitcoms, while Studio C was a drama studio. Studio D, with permanent audience seating, was used for light entertainment programmes[4] such as the ATV Morecambe and Wise series (Two of a Kind, 1961–68) and The Muppet Show (1976–81).[5]

ATV was restructured as Central Independent Television for the new contractual period beginning in January 1982. One of the conditions of its licence renewal by the governing body of the ITV network, then the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), was that ATV should vacate any London-based facilities and become entirely focused on the English Midlands, the region of the United Kingdom for which it had held the ITV franchise since 1968. For the last 18 months of its use as an ITV production studio, the complex was under the ownership of Central Independent Television; as ATV ceased to exist as a company at the end of 31 December 1981. The studios remained in operation by Central TV up until July 1983 (the final production under Central ownership being a Max Bygraves-era episode of Family Fortunes), when its new main production centre in Nottingham was completed.

BBC Elstree Centre

Back of Albert Square, external part of the set of EastEnders.
EMI 2001s on their last day in British National Studios at BBC Elstree Studio C in July 1991. The last programme in the world to use EMI 2001s to record images was EastEnders.

When the BBC bought the Elstree site in 1984 to produce its new soap opera EastEnders[1] (first aired on 19 February 1985), it did not purchase the equipment within the building.[6] Some sources state that as a consequence, Central TV's studio technicians were instructed to make the equipment left behind inoperable (there are particular claims about the camera prisms being smashed). Other sources dispute this, claiming the equipment was already so old and worthless there would have been no gain in intentionally disabling it. When the BBC moved in, it repaired equipment that was not beyond repair, sometimes using spare parts from identical pieces of equipment already in BBC use. The EMI 2001 television cameras used in Studio 3 at BBC Television Centre, Shepherd's Bush, were moved into the newly renamed 'BBC Elstree Centre' as part of that studio's refurbishment, instead of being stripped down for spare parts. Central TV's own EMI 2001s were considered to be beyond economic repair by BBC staff sent to examine the site, regardless of whether they had been intentionally disabled or not by Central TV employees. Elstree kept the EMI 2001s until 1991. Elstree's first new cameras were to be Thomson TTV-1531s, one of the last plumbicon-tubed cameras to be made.[7] These camera were again replaced in the mid-1990s with Thomson TTV-1542 and TTV-1647 lightweight cameras using the then-new camera technology of a charge-coupled device (CCD). Widescreen was introduced in 1999, using Philips/Thomson LDK 100s.[2] In 2010, the cameras across the site were again upgraded, this time to Sony HSC-300s.[8]

Buildings

'Fairbanks', with its distinctive green-tiled roof, is the oldest surviving building on the site, part of the studios constructed during the 1930s.[2] It sits adjacent to the largest studios, Studio C and D.

Holby City Hospital reception entrance, as used on the fictional medical drama Holby City, filmed at Elstree.

'Neptune House' was built during the 1960s, and has a glass-fronted entrance. It has featured in several popular television series, including as the school in Grange Hill, and since 1999, as the hospital reception for Holby City. A purpose-built set was constructed for Grange Hill at the back of the building in 1989, but was dismantled when the series left Elstree in 2002. Neptune House can be seen in the opening titles of Gerry Anderson's science-fiction series UFO (1970) as Harlington-Straker Film Studios, the (literal) cover for the secret and below-ground headquarters of SHADO. The hospital 'wards' in Holby City are actually the top floor of Neptune House, fully kitted out, allowing genuine outside views from the windows. The building's staircases are seen almost constantly in the series.

Backlot

Exteriors and interiors of the Queen Vic are filmed on site

The exterior set for the fictional East London setting Albert Square in EastEnders[1] is located in the permanent backlot at 51°39′32″N 0°16′40″W / 51.65889°N 0.27778°W / 51.65889; -0.27778. Originally constructed in 1984, the set is outdoors and open to the elements; by 2010, it was looking increasingly shabby. It was rebuilt for compliance with the requirements of high-definition television (HD TV) on the same site in 2013–2014, using mostly real brick, with some areas using a new improved plastic brick. Throughout rebuilding filming would still take place, and so scaffolding was often seen on screen during the process, with some story lines written to accommodate the rebuilding, such as the Queen Vic fire.[9] In January 2014, the BBC announced on the EastEnders website that the set has been approved to be expanded by twenty percent; creating a new permanent front lot, located on the site of the former staff car park.[10] This expansion project is the 'E20' project, which by 2018 had already gone over-budget.

Studios

The Big Fat Quiz of the Year set in Studio D
Through the Keyhole set in Studio D

Of the seven large studios on site, all are operated by BBC Studioworks. However, only one (Studio D) is available for hire, the other six being permanently dedicated to EastEnders. There are also a number of smaller studios used for the filming of Holby City. The current configuration is as follows:

Studio A

66 × 62 metric feet within fire lanes.

Part of the EastEnders studio facilities. It has an overhang in one corner with production galleries above, but these areas are no longer used.

Studio B

70 × 62 metric feet within fire lanes.

Part of the EastEnders studio facilities. Like A, C and D, it has an overhang in one corner with production galleries above. The original gallery facilities have been modified into two separate production galleries for use on EastEnders, and both can control any of the studios on site (other than Studio D) plus the backlot.

Studio C

102 × 68 metric ft within fire lanes.

Part of the EastEnders studio facilities. Like A, B and D, it has an overhang in one corner with production galleries above. The original gallery facilities have been converted into a switching and engineering area for BBC News' election broadcasts.[11]

Studio D

114 × 78 metric feet, excluding audience seating

The only studio on site available for hire via BBC Studioworks,[12] this is a 8,892 sq ft (826.1 m2) light-entertainment studio with permanent audience seating in a recessed area of one wall. Like A, B and C, it has an overhang in one corner with production galleries above. The adjacent Studio E, which is 1,134 sqft, is used as props handling.

Studio E

Adjacent to Studio D, Studio E, which is 1,134 square feet (105.4 square metres), is used as props handling.

Stage 1

154 × 60 metric feet outside fire lanes.

Part of the EastEnders studio facilities. It includes a number of control rooms and associated facilities along one wall, which can control the backlot plus any of the studios on site (other than Studio D). This is the home of the standing sets of The Queen Victoria and the cafe.

Stage 2

Part of the EastEnders studio facilities. Located in the same complex as Stage 1 and 3.

Stage 3

Part of the EastEnders studio facilities. Located in the same complex as Stage 1 and 2.

Productions

Further reading

  • Leslie Banks. The Elstree Story: Twenty-One Years of Film-Making. Clerke and Cockeran. 88 pages; with contributions by Douglas Fairbanks, Alfred Hitchcock, Ralph Richardson, Victory Saville, Googie Withers, Anna Neagle, and John Mills.
  • Warren, Patricia (1983). British Film Studios: An Illustrated History. Batsford: Anova Books. ISBN 978-0-7134-8644-5.
  • Warren, Patricia (1983). Elstree: The British Hollywood. London, England: Elm Tree Books. ISBN 978-0-86287-446-9.
  • Castle, Stephen; Brooks, William (1988). The Book of Elstree & Boreham Wood. Buckingham, England: Barracuda Books Ltd. ISBN 978-0-86023-406-7.
  • Welsh, Paul (1996). Elstree Film & Television Festival Programme. Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Charlotte Forde. "Our services - Studios - Brand new studios at Elstree". BBCStudiosAndPostProduction.com. BBC Studios and Post Production. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h BBC Elstree Archived 17 November 2015 at the Wayback Machine at TV Studio History, URL accessed 6 November 2015
  3. ^ Louis Barfe, Turned Out Nice Again: The Story of British Light Entertainment, London: Atlantic Books, 2008, pp.122-23
  4. ^ Barfe Turned Out Nice Again], p.108
  5. ^ Brian Jay Jones, Jim Henson: The Biography, London: Random House, 2013, p.126
  6. ^ "Chronomedia: 1984", TerraMedia.co.uk
  7. ^ a b Fred Humphrey (Winter 1991). "ENG INF Winter 1991/2 No.47" (PDF). BBCeng.info. BBC Wood Norton. pp. 9–12. Retrieved 16 November 2019. The programme now uses up to four Thomson 1531 and two lightweight cameras.
  8. ^ "BBC moves closer to HD EastEnders". BroadcastNow.co.uk. Broadcast. 18 March 2010. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  9. ^ Green, Kris (22 June 2010). "'EastEnders' pub to burn down in blaze". Digital Spy. London: Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 5 September 2010.
  10. ^ "EastEnders set expansion". BBC.co.uk. British Broadcasting Corporation. 23 January 2014.
  11. ^ "Political Broadcasting". BBCStudioworks.com. BBC Studioworks. Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  12. ^ "Elstree HD TV Studios". BBC Studioworks. BBC Studioworks. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  13. ^ "BBC Studioworks bolsters title wins with shows from Talkback, Zeppotron, Potato and ITV Studios". BBC Studioworks. 20 March 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  14. ^ "BBC Studioworks kick-starts 2019 with new titles". BBC Studioworks. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  15. ^ "BBC Studioworks to facilitate new Channel 5 commission, Celebrity Game Night". BBC Studioworks. 13 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  16. ^ "BBC Studioworks kick-starts autumn with three original title wins". BBC Studioworks. 10 October 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  17. ^ "February's Studio Round-Up". BBC Studioworks. 21 February 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  18. ^ "Let's Sing and Dance for Comic Relief". BBC Studioworks. 22 March 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  19. ^ "Lip Sync Battle UK". BBC Studioworks. 10 January 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  20. ^ "Not Going Out". BBC Studioworks. 16 January 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  21. ^ "BBC Studioworks to provide full studio and post production services to Comic Relief Appeal Night". BBC Studioworks. 15 March 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  22. ^ "Sam Smith at the BBC". BBC Studioworks. 2 October 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  23. ^ "Tenable for ITV – new gameshow format and Hollywood host". BBC Studioworks. 6 November 2006. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  24. ^ "BBC Studioworks welcomes four new productions for Autumn". BBC Studioworks. 14 September 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  25. ^ "TOTP to quit Elstree studios", Broadcast, 20 October 2000
  26. ^ "TOTP editor plots fresh pops", BBC News, 18 October 2001
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