BBC Studios and Post Production has confirmed that the 2013 run of the hit series Strictly Come Dancing will move to Elstree Studios’ 15,600 square foot George Lucas Stage while Television Centre is being renovated.
Aside from EastEnders, which is permanently located at BBCS&PP facilities at BBC Elstree, other major productions temporarily moving across to nearby Elstree Studios from March include Pointless and The Matt Lucas Awards.
BBC S&PP is installing high-spec galleries, TV floors and lighting grids across Elstree Studios’ 7,500 square foot stages 8 and 9 enabling the complex to market comprehensive TV spaces rather than four-wallers with drive-up OB or de-rigs for the first time.
TVC was acquired by property developers Stanhope for £200m last July and following extensive redevelopment part of the TVC site will reopen as a studio in 2015. The full plans are still being worked on.
“BBC Studios and Post Production will return to the site and operate three state-of-the-art studio production spaces, including a brand new flagship Studio 1,” said Craig White, head of New Business & Entertainment.
“The new studios will offer cutting edge facilities in central London, as well as a fantastic audience experience. We’re working closely with the developers to ensure the new studios will meet our customers’ needs and we’re in the process of planning the technical requirements.”
He added: “Traditional studio facilities are still as important as they’ve ever been to our customers. We have regular bookings for game shows and live events that require large studio space so this was a key consideration when we were looking for interim accommodation while Television Centre is redeveloped.”
In January BBCS&PP will open a standalone post-production facility on London’s Charlotte Street housing nine Avid Media Composer offlines, nine Avid Symphony Nitris DX finishing suites, a Pro Tools 5.1 audio suite, voiceover booth and an Autodesk Smoke visual effects and grading system.
The facility will be linked to BBC studios at BBC Elstree and Elstree Studios and to TVC until March, so it can directly serve live studio productions that require inserts.
By Adrian Pennington
