Ten Minutes In... ATV Centre Birmingham

The Crossroads Appreciation Society are given a camera, and then spend time wandering around the former ITV Midlands studios known as ATV Centre. The former home of ATV, and more recently Central TV.
This is a version that isn't narrated.

[@agnesbutterbun]

I worked first at Aston and then at ATV for 12 wonderful years in the make-up and hair dept. I saw the make-up dept and where my chair used to be next to the door. Very sad to see everything torn out, I was Nolly's make-up artiste for much of that time, what a waste of a fantastic studio, brings tears to my eyes's.

[@JT4CD]

I first came here as 7 year old in 1981 for a Tiswas filming. A lot of these interior shots are bringing back 40 + year old memories.

[@cjmillsnun]

Criminal to think that both this and Pebble Mill have gone.

[@OliverWoodphotography]

So much of our TV industry heritage has gone now. TVC in London, BBC Oxford Rd and Granada House in Manchester, I worked in both. The new facilities just don't have the same kind of atmos but I suppose this all has to do with huge changes brought about by new technology and the demise of mass audience broadcasting. The golden era of TV is long gone sadly.

[@morgansifer]

ATV studios were opened in 1970 by Princess Alexandra. Back then they were the most sophisticated TV studios in Europe. Sad to see how they were allowed to decline to this and subsequent demolition. 37 years is not a very long time.

[@alexmacleod3728]

It was Nov 1969

[@angelacooper2661]

​@@alexmacleod3728That was just seven months before I was born, so fractionally older than me!

[@ATVmidlands5581]

i love this old place. sad that as i write its being demolished. very sad indeed. some lovely shots of the ATV centre from many angles. captures the place forever. great post this. thanks you

[@SuperTed19021]

A sad reminder of Britain's long gone TV past. 8:02 I wouldn't be surprised if they filmed "Bullseye" in that studio.

[@davidmullooly2104]

I vaguely held down the dreariest job on earth then in Alpha Tower. Lunchtime uplift seeing crossroads stars on their breaks.

[@ATVmidlands5581]

its terribly sad that this grand old place is to be replaced by a shopping/retail park. so many happy memories of ATVLAND!

[@buffetuk]

I miss central tv😢

[@europa2000man]

It such a sad sight to see the ATV / Central studios

[@agnesbutterbun]

YES, I worked on the first one, and kissed Chris live on camera. Do you remember Alex well thats me? Now living in Texas USA, loved seeing Mike Prince ( Some day Mike Prince will come) and Bob. Worked on the Golden Shot and New Faces, I have many funny stories to tell. I introduced Kenny Baker (Star Wars) to his wife right there in the make-up room. Happy glory days and what a buz.

[@standenberg]

Fictionally the first series of Auf Wiedersehen Pet was mainly set in the hut on a german building site. It was a real hut but was filmed (along with the building site) at Elstree studios in Hertfordshire, two years after filming the BBC bought the studios as a home for EastEnders, 23 years on and Albert Square is still at Elstree.

[@atvnetworklimited]

Well when Nigel is speaking in Studio 2 he did say Tiswas was done there, but the game shows were in Studio 1.

[@jessicaosborn2228]

Tiswas was done in studio 3

[@yellowbelly06]

@Central2020 Series 1 was made at the former ATV studios at Elstree (which had to be sold as part of thefranchise being awarded and now owned by the BBC and used for Eastenders). In fact the 'German' building site is the same spot as Albert Square. Studio scenes for series 2 were shot at Nottingham.

[@atvnetworklimited]

@AidanLunn Sorry for the delay, the studio seating can be made out at the point of the pine unvarnished wood running down the right wall. This was used to make the area look nice for gameshows. There is a photo of the studio in operation and it has 'The Golden Shot' in lights down that wall.

[@CrossroadsFanClub]

There was another staircase but half of it was missing, Maybe studio 3 has been revamped in recent years, but it was grey walls.

[@CrossroadsFanClub]

They must have used 3 and 2 for Tiswas. I suppose it depended what was using the bigger studio 2, although New Faces would have been in studio 1, however when it was in 1, Crossroads would be in 2. Confusing LOL. I remember JoAnne Good who was in Crossroads, said they used to go in and watch Tiswas - hence the 'Who needs Crossroads' refs from Chris Tarrent in the show. And she said they were always in the studio 'next to' Tiswas.

[@jessicaosborn2228]

New faces was done from the Hippodrome Birmingham live on a Friday

[@atvnetworklimited]

@Feisty1967 ATV's first studios in Birmingham were in Aston Cross and were co-owned with ABC TV Midlands. Alpha TV Studios, which ironically the ATV-ABC funded office block is still standing (and in use) long after its replacement closed. The studio section was demolished and is now a Staples Store. Postcode B6 4DA in Google Maps will take you to the building.

[@retunerman]

Strange to think that ATV's Borehamwood studios has outlived both Birmingham and Nottingham centres. Although rumour has it that Borehamwood's days are numbered. EastEnders is looking for a new home.

[@atvnetworklimited]

September 2nd 2005 for all the inside footage. Some outside was done on the 3rd.

[@agnesbutterbun]

I saw the studios being demolished, what a waste, I worked there in make-up and it was busy all the time. We produced some great entertainment , the studio system was best for training, now it shows on all the new stuff. The make-up and hair work is crap, people training on the job.

[@atvnetworklimited]

Just on the comment about the hallways being dark, (The comment has suddently disapeared YT messing about I guess) the studios lit up - bar Studio 1 A - as the bulbs hadn't fused, it seems the hallway ones had been left on as some were glowing at the edge of the bulbs but had all now (Well after ten years on and no repairs going on) had conked out.

[@CrossroadsFanClub]

The Tiswas one with the balcony is Studio 2, Studio 3 doesn't have a balcony.

[@robertjeffries6217]

Who was the guy who introduced the Friday night horror film on ATV surrounded by dolls and puppets ?

[@robertcomer2767]

Peter Tomlinson

[@retunerman]

I also heard a rumour about Leeds, but Pinewood seems much more likely.