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Closure of The London Studios is a “betrayal of staff” – BECTU

"No logic" to ITV's proposal

Media and entertainment trade union BECTU has said ITV’s plans to close The London Studios is a “betrayal of staff”.

ITV’s proposal is part of a significant planned redevelopment of the company’s Southbank base – but planning permission has not yet been granted.

The London Studios complex is home to ITV’s daytime output and to money spinners such as Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, The Jonathan Ross Show and third party productions such as The Graham Norton Show. The facilities also house substantial technical and production expertise in light entertainment TV.

Gerry Morrissey, head of BECTU, said, “Today’s announcement is a betrayal of dedicated staff at The London Studios who have worked to build a go-to production facility.

“Even in the short term, the proposal has no logic. Why announce the studios closure when planning permission has yet to be sought and when the redevelopment will not begin until 2018 at the earliest?

“We’ll be asking the questions which need to be asked to shine a light on the plans and to defend the interests of our members. We’d also like to know whether the proposal to close The London Studios is motivated more by the prospect of a possible sale of the company than by sound industrial planning.”