Image: ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Symphony Orchestra, Section D, conducted by Aylmer Buesst in studio MV1 at Maida Vale, 1934.
The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s Maida Vale building witnessed every sort of ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ music making - from Pink Floyd to ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Symphony Orchestra! Acquired in response to the rapidly increasing requirements of broadcasting in the early 30s, it was in fact one of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s earliest premises, pre-dating Broadcasting House in central London. It was the centre of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ radio news service during the Second World War, and like Broadcasting House, the site had to be repaired after taking a direct hit during the London Blitz.
Initially, however, it was acquired for orchestral purposes, and so in 1934 a skating rink in Maida Vale was converted into studio facilities large enough to accommodate a major orchestra. Originally it could accommodate more than 150 musicians, a choir of over 100 and an audience of 220.
Overall, the building housed a total of seven music and radio drama studios, and - outside its classical music remit - was most famously home to John Peel's ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 1 Peel Sessions, and the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radiophonic Workshop (as used in the Doctor Who theme music).
Now a new state-of-the-art facility in Stratford, east London has replaced it, and the original building sold to a partnership that includes the Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer and film producers Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner.
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Maida Vale
Further information about the building -
Women of the Workshop
The women who shaped the pioneering sound of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radiophonic Workshop, based at Maida Vale Studios -
My Top 10 Maida Vale Sessions
Mike Engles, Studio Manager at Maida Vale since 1972, recalls his favourite sessions -
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ to leave iconic Maida Vale studios
Mark Savage reports on the decision to leave Maida Vale by 2022
October anniversaries
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Winston Churchill's first wartime broadcast
1 October 1939 -
Songs of Praise
1 October 1961 -
Live and Kicking
2 October 1993 -
Points of View
2 October 1961 -
The Trials of Life
3 October 1990 -
Pick of the Pops
4 October 1955 -
Monty Python's Flying Circus
5 October 1969 -
Poldark
5 October 1975 -
You and Yours
6 October 1970 -
Woman's Hour
7 October 1946 -
DIY SOS
7 October 1999 -
Later... with Jools Holland
8 October 1992 -
In Touch
8 October 1961 -
Make Yourself At ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ - Programmes for Immigrants
10 October 1965 -
Grandstand
11 October 1958 -
Around the World in 80 Days
11 October 1989 -
On The Move
12 October 1975 -
First edition of Any Questions
12 October 1948 -
First edition of Omnibus
13 October 1967 -
Bombing of Broadcasting House
15 October 1940 -
Play For Today
15 October 1970 -
First televised Party Election Broadcast
15 October 1951 -
Birds of a Feather
16 October 1989 -
Blue Peter first broadcast
16 October 1958 -
The Magic Roundabout
18 October 1965 -
The formation of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½
18 October 1922 -
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Symphony Orchestra first broadcast
22 October 1930 -
Captain Pugwash
22 October 1957 -
Terry and June
24 October 1979 -
Launch of daytime television
27 October 1986 -
The Wednesday Play first broadcast
28 October 1964 -
First edition of Today
28 October 1957 -
Maida Vale opens
30 October 1934