Am I right in thinking then that Stage V was built on the area where the Blue Peter statue of Petra was and 2000 time capsule was buried? I remember in the mid 80s they had to move both of them round the back to the Blue Peter garden.
Yep - I think either Stage V or part of the ancillary work that was needed to build it meant that the Petra statue and the Blue Peter time capsule needed to be moved.
The end wall of Stage V was the one that was completely covered with a painted mural of a satellite dish. It was designed by the winner of a Going Live competition. When Stage VI was added on to the end of Stage V it was covered up/removed.
noggin on 11:41 am on Jan. 3, 2002
Stage V was built in the mid 80s to house post production for main BBC programmes - until then VT had been based under the 'fountain' in the basement of the doughnut.
Am I correct in remembering that leakage from this fountain caused damage to some videotapes in the rooms underneath? I vaguely remember something about this somewhere.
Yes - there are continuing rumours that the fountain leaked into VT in the basement, and that is why it was switched off. No idea if they are true.
As for how big TVC is ? No idea...
There are about 15 studios (including News and CBBC) - not including signing and other single camera positions.
Some bits have basement areas, some go up to a 7th floor, some only to a 5th. There is also the East Tower on the same site - this is where the production offices for a number of departments are . It is a bit like an office block - no idea how high it is - but it is much higher than TVC.
noggin on 11:27 pm on Jan. 3, 2002
Yes - there are continuing rumours that the fountain leaked into VT in the basement, and that is why it was switched off. No idea if they are true.
Yeap, it did leak!
I far prefered it when the fountain was switched off & they created a 'moat' around the outside edge of the statue with fish in it - very calming. Except the local cats became wise & came along for a midnight feast
Don't like it as much now with the plant beds. Don't get me wrong, it's still very nice to sit out there in the summer, but it was fun seeing your wallet floating around the moat, NOT ha ha
As for the tours, yes Stage VI is included, but they don't actually go inside the news centre as such, but stop at the big glass windows (which have been reinforced since the attack on Anna Ford) and don't go past the secure entry points. But you may get in on a VIP trip & specifically request a tour of the Newsroom/Output Suites etc if there aren't too many in the group.
noggin on 11:27 pm on Jan. 3, 2002
Yes - there are continuing rumours that the fountain leaked into VT in the basement, and that is why it was switched off. No idea if they are true.
Yeap, it did leak!
I far prefered it when the fountain was switched off & they created a 'moat' around the outside edge of the statue with fish in it - very calming. Except the local cats became wise & came along for a midnight feast
Don't like it as much now with the plant beds. Don't get me wrong, it's still very nice to sit out there in the summer, but it was fun seeing your wallet floating around the moat, NOT ha ha
As for the tours, yes Stage VI is included, but they don't actually go inside the news centre as such, but stop at the big glass windows (which have been reinforced since the attack on Anna Ford) and don't go past the secure entry points. But you may get in on a VIP trip & specifically request a tour of the Newsroom/Output Suites etc if there aren't too many in the group.
TVC is an interesting place to work. There is always building and changing going on somewhere.
Because it's all very different I find it quite easy to get around and know where you are. I did a stint at White City up the road, which is just a big office block, and I was forever getting lost because the whole building is just so bland and exactly the same every floor.
The East Tower is about 13 or 14 floors I think. Long time since I've been up there. Mostly houses Children's TV and Music/Arts. There are also edit suites and dubbing theatres in there too. Many years ago (long before my time) the Queen would go to the East Tower for the dubbing of the Christmas Message. I have heard countless stories of 'mind the cables on the floor your majesty'.
White City was quite a marvel when it first opened.
All of the heating & lighting was controlled by a central computer. As it's primary role is an office, everything was programed around the 9-5 workers, which was great for them, but useless for us techy types who worked shifts editing on AViD or doing graphics.
Every day we had to tell the people who look after the day-to-day running of the place when we expected to finish so they could adjust the computer before they went home to keep some lights & heating on in specific locations.
We always made sure we took in a few layers of clothes just in case we over-ran our bookings so we didn't freeze to death!
