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The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Tour

The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ buildings are brought alive by Nick Baker as he tours through the archives from 1922 to the present day. From 2014.

Savoy Hill, Broadcasting House, Lime Grove, TV Centre, Maida Vale and Bush House are just some of the iconic ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ buildings brought alive by Nick Baker in this fascinating tour of the archives from 1922 to the present.

After the Queen opened the new extension to London Broadcasting House in 2013, regular guided public tours took place. Sculptor Eric Gill's statue of Prospero and Ariel over the 1932 art deco front entrance sparked controversy over part of the latter's anatomy. ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ buildings have made news ever since.

The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s first home in Savoy Hill was described by DG Lord Reith as a miserable sort of place, but for ten years it broadcast a variety of talks and even some agonisingly slow Wimbledon commentaries.

Lime Grove in Shepherd's Bush was bought by the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ in 1949 to temporarily house its fledgling TV service, but it remained in use for 42 years. Ludovic Kennedy shares its history.

ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ TV Centre is recalled by perhaps the most celebrity vox pop ever assembled.

Cerys Matthews visits the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ music studio in Maida Vale.

Terry Waite returns to Bush House, former home to ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ World Service which sustained him during his Lebanon captivity.

Members of the public experience the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Broadcasting House tour (discontinued in 2016) and ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Head of History Robert Seatter shares all the facts.

Producer: Merilyn Harris

Made for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 4 Extra by Testbed and first broadcast in August 2014.

3 hours

Last on

Sat 2 Jan 2021 19:00

Broadcasts

  • Sat 9 Aug 2014 09:00
  • Sat 9 Aug 2014 19:00
  • Sat 12 Dec 2015 09:00
  • Sat 12 Dec 2015 19:00
  • Sat 19 May 2018 09:00
  • Sat 19 May 2018 19:00
  • Sat 2 Jan 2021 09:00
  • Sat 2 Jan 2021 19:00