Birth of a Building - BBC Television Centre

A short film showing the building of BBC Television Centre in the 1950s.

[@patricksmith4424]

Fantastic almost haunting film. No boots, no hat and yes plenty of work. What a fantastic building and it delivered. Through the sixties and 70s the best telly on the planet came out of this building, partly because it was so beautifully designed it gave the perfect facility for the creators and producers to out put wonderful TV programmes. Who in their right mind would have sold of this production masterpiece to housing, when it obviously had years of media production left in it. Oh, this film would not be allowed anywhere near the current BBC schedule.. Too many men in it!

[@MrsSlocum]

The site was originally part of the exhibition of 1908 where there were 20 constructed palaces and other exhibition buildings. Some of the original floor tiles are tucked away behind the abandoned TC1.

[@branscombeR]

My dad was a carpenter on this building. We lived just a five minute walk away, just off Wood Lane. Our junior school sports were held in the old White City stadium, on the famous red cinder track. R (Australia)

[@captainpigeon79]

Fascinating piece of footage. Good to see Eric Morecambe pitch in towards the end despite the reviews for Running Wild!

[@Andy-Robus]

great footage - fascinating to see it taking shape

[@cliveevans3328]

yes they found some tiles from that exhibition when they dug up the blue Peter garden years ago..anyone remember?

[@simonstanley9]

ITV have been using the three remainig studios since they closed their studios on the Southbank at Waterloo. Their morning progrsmmes are broadcast from there.

[@paulburns-dt9eq]

Like Good Morning Britain and This Morning.

[@paulburns-dt9eq]

Did you see where one builder had to catch a brick some 20-30ft in the air without fail? Incredible!

[@indisciplinedlad]

In terms of safety, building sites half a century ago look like a whole different world. No hard hats at all, some guys without proper boots, and in one scene what looks like a guy carrying searing hot pitch in a bucket with no gloves - and no shirt!

[@WhiteCamry]

What was there before the BBC Centre was built? It looks like a factory which was blitzed and/or abandoned.

[@goodolgranite8247]

The buildings on the site before construction of the Television Centre were originally constructed and used for the Franco-British Exhibition of 1908.

[@chriswaring5565]

THAT MUSIC IS DULL ESPECIALLY WITH THAT SLOW DRUM GOING BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM SOUNDS LIKE BASIL BRUSH THAT NEEDS WINDING UP

[@dinomemlika7629]

The music creeps me out and how did they use the reverted piano sound effect

[@wf2243]

Search for the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, they would have been in charge of sounds! They were also responsible for the sound effects in Doctor Who - there's a couple of interesting documentaries knocking around if you have a look. I remember one shot of them making a sound out of a metal lampshade! Delia Derbyshire is also a good name to search for, she was instrumental (no pun intended) in the Workshop.

[@spencerhardy8667]

The soundtrack sounds very Daphne Oram, pre Radiophonic Workshop.

[@MrDavey2010]

Creepy music!

[@maxruby-topic9324]

This was from 1952?

[@Joyousmicor]

No, this documentary from 1960.

[@dinomemlika7629]

Dzianal true .

[@johnnywhite58]

A great asset gutted . tv studios are not warehouses with lights.

[@Bluechannel46]

5:54

[@Bluechannel46]

6:09

[@Bluechannel46]

6:46

[@Bluechannel46]

9:14

[@Bluechannel46]

10:23

[@chriswaring5565]

IT MAKES YOU WONDER WHAT THE LIKES OF SAVILLE GLITTER HARRIS AND THE REST OF THEM GOT UP TO IN THEM DRESSING ROOMS IF ONLY WALLS COULD TALK

[@craigmorrice4571]

With the Money we paid for a Licence then, I would have though some of the Money would have gone towards upkeep and redevelopment of the original Building. When it was closed, it looked time licked in the 1960's. But people are up in Arms about part of it been demolished to make way for Offices and Homes. That is called progress. As to the BBC leasing back 2 Studios, it is valled renting. After all, they sold the whole site for redvelopment. May BBC World will eventually permantly to Broadcasting House in Central London?

[@thedave7760]

I was privileged to work here for many years what a great building and what a waste to see it being turned into apartments. It was/is the best layout for it's purpose there is nothing like it anywhere in the television world. Somebody should have been hanged for letting this happen. With the move to Salford (face palm) and new Bush House refurb they were well out of pocket and have lost a beautiful, practical functional icon of British history. Thanks to all the consultants who said it would help put money back into BBC coffers,,, ahh it didn't really do that did it, quite sure they all got paid though.

[@jacksugden8190]

As can be seen. A total waste of time building the complex, as greedy bbc didn’t have a crystal ball. What the new Stanhope crowd should have done when they acquired the site when sold, was too demolished the entire complex.

[@Joyousmicor]

Jack Sugden :(, agree. Stanhope is s#*t.

[@sillygoose635]

@@Joyousmicor nah, you're shit.

[@sillygoose635]

Man, jack, you suck.

[@dinomemlika7629]

Jack Sugden your true and Stevie your wrong

[@jacksugden8190]

Dino Memlika - gutted, it’s still on a naff industrial estate in 2020.