Goodbye Television Centre

So that’s the end of an era. A chapter has closed for good.

I have worked my last day at BBC Television Centre. It was an odd experience, for a building that has been winding down for months was suddenly brimming with life because of the Comic Relief charity fundraiser – the last live studio-based show to come from TVC.

I’ve worked in the building since 2004 and it’s become part of my life’s fabric, full of familiar sights which are now being consigned to memory. This set of photographs captures just some of Television Centre’s corners that I’ve encountered so many times, and the essence of this iconic building.

Television Centre’s doors will close for good in two weeks before the site is handed over to its new owners. A major and lengthy refurbishment will follow. Life goes on, doesn’t it?…

Click first image for the full gallery experience

The circular heart of Television Centre, better known as The Doughnut – and a welcome sun trap.

It’s a building full of corridors. This 2nd floor example leads to the famous BBC canteen.

TVC is a place of star talent. They need places to get ready.

The modern ‘front end’ of the building houses the BBC’s newsroom.

The newsroom has become very quiet as services move to New Broadcasting House in central London.

Signs direct confused visitors around the building. In recent weeks they’ve been mysteriously disappearing (the signs, not the visitors).

Television Centre’s Stage Door is decorated with a sumptuous mosaic.

The now derelict BBC canteen, which has been the butt of many jokes over the years.

The entrance to one of TVC’s numerous studios. These signs have been going missing too.

A maze of lights but nothing’s happening in this television studio.

BBC talent – Strictly Come Dancing hosts Sir Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly – displayed on the 4th floor, where you can find the hallowed BBC bar.

The lifts in TVC frequently need repair…

… but it’s better than clambering up and down the numerous staircases.

A statue of Helios is the centrepiece of TVC’s rotund heart.

Television Centre’s clock which has ground to a halt several times.

The lights that illuminate the Stage Door area, where you would often spot famous people and the less well known reciting their lines before an audition.

A derelict office on the 7th floor which used to be the News Online newsroom – my base for many years.

BBC Television Centre’s sign, which has been seen around the world.

See these other posts related to BBC Television Centre:

Vertigo

Vacated

Upstairs Downstairs

Tags: architecture, BBC canteen, BBC Television Centre, dressing rooms, Helios, newsroom, photography, studios, White City

23 thoughts on “Goodbye Television Centre”

Jacqueline Hampson (@J_Hampson) on October 17, 2013 at 23:02 said:

Thanks for sharing, brought back some happy memories. Good luck with your future plans.

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- mikeosbornphoto on October 19, 2013 at 00:04 said:
  
  Thank you very much for coming by, Jacqueline. I’m very pleased that the photos evoked some warm recollections. It seems to be that sort of building.
  
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LGPhotographix on April 13, 2013 at 09:15 said:

This is a really interesting post, I didn’t realise how big the place was and what a great set of images.

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- mikeosbornphoto on April 13, 2013 at 09:18 said:
  
  Many thanks, Lee, glad you enjoyed it. It’s shut down now and waiting for its lengthy redevelopment. Thanks for the follow – really like your site and enjoy seeing variations on the Nishita theme!
  
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Stephen Savva on March 22, 2013 at 10:06 said:

I’m really pleased that you’ve taken the time and care Mike to capture these images of Television Centre for us all to remember! I worked there for 3 years, and the place and people mean’t so much to me – the best years of my life! A truly unique and creative environment to work in and there is no other place like it. It must have been so difficult for you to leave Mike. I haven’t quite said ‘goodbye’ to TC yet, as I’m returning to watch two shows being filmed there before Easter. Have you now left the BBC or have you moved to Broadcasting House?

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- mikeosbornphoto on March 22, 2013 at 19:48 said:
  
  Thanks Stephen, glad you enjoyed them. It’s just up the road in Media Centre for me – passing TVC every day!
  
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lena de almeida on March 22, 2013 at 00:02 said:

What a great way to record the end of the building as you (and in a way all of us) know it!

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- mikeosbornphoto on March 22, 2013 at 19:44 said:
  
  Thank you Lena. It’s known all over the world, isn’t it? Always sad to say goodbye, even to a pile of bricks and mortar.
  
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Noeline Smith on March 18, 2013 at 09:11 said:

What a great set of images. I’ve never been there but, with your images and text, feel that I know the place – and will miss it!

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- mikeosbornphoto on March 18, 2013 at 23:03 said:
  
  Thank you very much, Noeline, l’m very pleased when photographs give a sense of place. It’s often sad to leave something behind.
  
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lautal on March 17, 2013 at 15:07 said:

Mike, as soon as you are in peace with the situation and have a good memory of this lovely place, everything is OK.

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- mikeosbornphoto on March 17, 2013 at 15:15 said:
  
  Thanks Alexander, very wise words. I’ll walk past without going to work there tomorrow… that will be strange to begin with.
  
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Photographs by Peter Knight on March 17, 2013 at 12:21 said:

Lovely set of pictures! Both my parents worked many years for the BBC so I found a comforting familiarity in these photos; particularly the studio signs!

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- mikeosbornphoto on March 17, 2013 at 12:24 said:
  
  Thank you Peter, I’m glad they evoked good memories. Yes, a lot of the signs have become prized souvenirs.Your site is sumptuous and I hope to keep up with your posts.
  
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Cos on March 17, 2013 at 11:14 said:

It’s great to see how you bring a building to life. You really loved your working place, we can see it in the pictures. Even I (living in the Netherlands) will miss the old building of the BBC, after watching your series. I hope your new working place will fit, eventually.

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- mikeosbornphoto on March 17, 2013 at 11:20 said:
  
  Thank you very much, Cos, a very heartfelt comment and I appreciate it a lot. The building is known around the world. It may be a little tired in places, but it’s been ‘home’ for a long time. Life doesn’t stand still, though.
  
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ckponderings on March 17, 2013 at 11:06 said:

Reblogged this on ckponderings and commented:
The end of an era immortalised beautifully!

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- mikeosbornphoto on March 17, 2013 at 11:13 said:
  
  Thank you kindly, that’s great :-)
  
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  - ckponderings on March 17, 2013 at 11:31 said:
    
    No worries, Mike! :)
    
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ckponderings on March 17, 2013 at 11:06 said:

Really sad and the true end of an era. (Oddly, I’ve just watched a report on the BBC News website about the last news broadcast being transmitted from TVC today, 17th March.) I visited TVC a couple of times a few years back, and was lucky enough to visit Studio 1 and get lost in the doughnut. Things do move on, however, and I’m longing to stay in the proposed hotel! Great set of images, Mike, and let’s hope your new place of work is as photogenic! :D

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- mikeosbornphoto on March 17, 2013 at 11:12 said:
  
  Thank you as always, Richard. The notion of getting lost in the doughnut tickled me, but I still do it after 10 years of stalking those corridors! I don’t think anywhere else will have quite the same lustre as TVC, but things move on. I wonder how the redevelopment will look in years from now?…
  
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scpworkasx on March 17, 2013 at 10:50 said:

Nice piece

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- mikeosbornphoto on March 17, 2013 at 10:59 said:
  
  Thank you very much. A pretty subjective one!
  
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