Have never seen this before, but caught a bit while flicking around earlier. Couple of questions:
Where is it filmed? It doesn't look like the National News studio (aside from the fact that it's an 'old-style' desk, the railing seems to curve round much more).
Anyone else think that the newsroom backdrop (which I presume is a video loop rather than live) looks a lot more natural than those on BBC1 news or N24?
Yep, it's filmed at Millbank (Westminster) studios, and the newsroom backdrop is real! They pull a 'curtain' around, so I was told, which sort of diffuses the backdrop a little, so it's not as distracting.
The desk is on a sort of balcony. Behind the camera is a window looking down into the central area of Millbank where you can often see speeches being made by MPs. Last time I was there I saw Jack Straw giving a speech about a new book which was being released.
Either side of the desk are two strips of mirror which reach from the floor to ceiling to make the newsroom look wider when on the telly. When you stand next to them though for real they look crap! The reflection is like that of mirror card you get for cutting up at primary schools. Looks convincing on telly though.
On occassions when interviews are done in the two comfy chairs with the plants next to a window, you can see the desk and the main newsroom behind. Hard to explain, but those who have been there will know what I'm on about.
Yes - Dateline London comes from the BBC Westminster newsroom. This is the same set that used to be used for Westminster Live, before it was replaced by "The Daily Politics". There is a gauze curtain that is pulled around between the set and the newsroom to diffuse the background.
Dateline London has also come from the BBC Westminster studio (both the newsroom and studio can work into the same gallery) - but this look didn't last for that long. The studio is now used for The Daily Politics, and This Week, as well as one of the other News 24 discussion programmes (Head 2 Head?)
Yes - Dateline London comes from the BBC Westminster newsroom. This is the same set that used to be used for Westminster Live, before it was replaced by "The Daily Politics". There is a gauze curtain that is pulled around between the set and the newsroom to diffuse the background.
Dateline London has also come from the BBC Westminster studio (both the newsroom and studio can work into the same gallery) - but this look didn't last for that long. The studio is now used for The Daily Politics, and This Week, as well as one of the other News 24 discussion programmes (Head 2 Head?)
Yes - I remember when Dateline came from there - they also used it temporarily on the night of the bomb at Television Centre for news bulletins - Adrian Finighan stayed in N9 in TVC, and Susan Osman did a couple of bulletins from that Westminster studio - there might be some clips on TV Home for any who haven't seen it.
The Dateline Studio set was used by Susan Osman when the BBC evacuated to BBC Westminster after the Taxi Bomb.
The Westminster newsroom location was used for the 9 O'Clock News (think it was still the 9) when the BBC had to relocate because of the major power failure that took the Six off-air mid-programme. A different desk was used and I think the gauze curtain was pulled over. So you could say it was the Dateline London "studio", but equally you could say it was the Westminster Live one! (Or the Metropol one etc.)
Ah, you lovely, lovely people.
One of the things I do enjoy about this place is, like in this thread, where you ask a question and don't just get the answer but loads of other interesting related facts.
Thanks, guys.
Does Dateline London go out on World as well as N24?
Does Dateline London go out on World as well as N24?
Yep, it goes out live on News 24 at 1110, and then they edit bits of it to suit commercial breaks, and it is then screened on BBC World usually at 1510 or 1610 on Sunday. They also air a 30-minute version on World at 2230 for those who missed the full one in the afternoon.
