What is the Old BBC Television Centre Now?
Designed by Graham Dawbarn and opened in 1960, the BBC Television Centre was a pioneering hub for television production, located in Shepherd’s Bush, London. Affectionately known as “TVC” by its staff, the building’s unique circular design, often called the “doughnut,” housed technical equipment, artist facilities, and administrative offices. Studios were strategically grouped around this central core, connected by a covered walkway to a scenery block for efficient production workflows.
The circular design stemmed from a moment of inspiration. Dawbarn, struggling with the triangular shape of the site, sketched a question mark within the triangle on the back of an envelope. This question mark, symbolizing the challenge of incorporating numerous studios, production areas, and logistical needs, transformed into the iconic circular layout.
The building’s central garden features a prominent sculpture of Helios, the Greek god of the sun. Designed by T. B. Huxley-Jones, the statue symbolizes the global reach of television broadcasting. Two reclining figures at the base of the sculpture represent sound and vision, the fundamental components of television.
The Television Centre boasted eight studios, with Studio TC1 being one of the largest in Britain. Iconic programs like Fawlty Towers, Monty Python’s Flying Circus, Blue Peter, Absolutely Fabulous, and classic Doctor Who were filmed within its walls. The beloved Blue Peter garden, a cherished feature for generations, has since been relocated to Media City in Salford.
The House of Eliott, filmed in 1994, marked the last major drama series produced at the Television Centre. The shift towards film and single-camera video production rendered the facility less suitable for contemporary methods.
The BBC sold the Television Centre in 2012. The building underwent extensive renovations, transforming into a mixed-use development with premium apartments, offices, and three remaining television studios, including the iconic TC1. BBC Studios, the commercial arm of the BBC, now maintains its headquarters at the site. This redevelopment balances modern living and working spaces while preserving a piece of television history.
