The Gallery

BBC Studio N8

A bit of TVC nostalgia (February 2015)

This site closed in March 2021 and is now a read-only archive
DT
DTV
That's the studio that they used in BBC Breakfast from May 2006- February 2009


No it isn't, that's Studio N8 that was used by BBC News 24 from 1998-2008 and then for BBC World News from 2008-2013. BBC Breakfast came from Studio N6 between May 2006 and Early 2008 and then TC7 until April 2012 when it moved to a piece of converted office space in Salford that it shares with BBC North West.
ST
Stuart
Am I right in thinking that when N8 was revamped in 2003, the new set was configured differently, and rotated by 90 degrees compared to the previous layout.

If so, where would the 2003 set be on those pictures of the 1998 version?
DT
DTV
Am I right in thinking that when N8 was revamped in 2003, the new set was configured differently, and rotated by 90 degrees compared to the previous layout.

If so, where would the 2003 set be on those pictures of the 1998 version?


Yes, the set was rotated 90* in 2003. It can best be shown in this diagram...
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ST
Stuart
Thanks DTV.

I don't know why, but I had imagined the 90 degree rotation to be the opposite way.

Presumably, this re-configuration is why it took so long to complete. IIRC they were in TC7 using CSO for about 6 weeks.
DT
DTV
Thanks DTV.

I don't know why, but I had imagined the 90 degree rotation to be the opposite way.

Presumably, this re-configuration is why it took so long to complete. IIRC they were in TC7 using CSO for about 6 weeks.


When they first moved into N8 in 1998 they had a view of the Newsroom, which is why the glass panels on the balcony had a frosted flag pattern on them (which I think were still there at the end). One of the reasons the reconfiguration took so long was that they had to delay the launch of News 24 because of power cuts and air con problems. I did, however, think they went into N1/2 to use CSO but I maybe getting that mixed up with the Nationals or World.
ST
Stuart
DTV posted:
When they first moved into N8 in 1998 they had a view of the Newsroom, which is why the glass panels on the balcony had a frosted flag pattern on them (which I think were still there at the end).

I remember the newsroom view during the 'flags era'. Where would the desk have been positioned on that plan during the pre-1999 set?
DT
DTV
DTV posted:
When they first moved into N8 in 1998 they had a view of the Newsroom, which is why the glass panels on the balcony had a frosted flag pattern on them (which I think were still there at the end).

I remember the newsroom view during the 'flags era'. Where would the desk have been positioned on that plan during the pre-1999 set?


It would have been around the position of the second set/right hand pod - the ones right at the top of the image.

9 days later

DT
DTV
N6 - 1999
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and a work in progress of N6 2002
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(sorry about the anachronistic title card, just a placeholder while I work on it)
DT
DTV
Here's a montage of all the main National, NC and World Sets since 1999
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107 days later

DT
DTV
A few months ago I rebuilt my Studio B set, as can be seen in the image above, but I realised I didn't actually upload any other images on here. This is my 3rd/4th attempt at the set and I hope it is the most accurate.

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As you'll notice there aren't any studio lights on the set as this is a substantial aide to rendering time - I've only done one non test render of the set - but due to a larger upcoming project any spare time is rendering those sets. Once that project is done, dusted and uploaded - I'll be redoing Studio C and E as well as having a crack at D and maybe then taking requests.
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(Before anyone asks, the coffee table is deliberately red - for some reason GMT never has the coffee table is in the raspberry colour as per the rest of the set)

Also here are a few more of my unuploaded recreations.
Cardiff C2
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Glasgow C
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Glasgow C (in Fake An La Colours)
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Salford - NWT
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And a few more images of N8 that I haven't yet uploaded...
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Last edited by DTV on 7 January 2016 12:13am - 3 times in total
CO
Colorband
I honestly want this model.
Not to naughtily post it on the internet like an evil person, but to look at it. It's like a diorama!

9 days later

DT
DTV
I honestly want this model.
Not to naughtily post it on the internet like an evil person, but to look at it. It's like a diorama!


Thanks, N8 has always been my favourite set and I endeavoured to make it as accurate as possible. When I've finished all the sets I might get around to creating a BBC News Set Index in the style of the BBC News Theme Index. It's just there's a lot to do and I find recreations take longer and are much harder than coming up with new sets.

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