BBC Studioworks provides full studio and post production services for live charity fundraiser.
Tonight sees the annual BBC Children in Need Appeal Show broadcast live from BBC Studioworks’ Elstree operation, in the effort to raise money for disadvantaged children and young people across the UK.
2018 is the sixth consecutive year that BBC Studioworks is facilitating the Appeal Show’s studio and post production requirements from Elstree.
Studio D’s transformation
The all-singing and all-dancing production, which includes performances from Jamie Cullen, Anne-Marie and Jonas Blue, is being hosted in BBC Studioworks’ 11,800 sq. ft. Studio D and is supported by its engineering and scenic teams.
Appeal Show presenters, Rob Beckett, Ade Adepitan, Mel Giedroyc, Graham Norton, Tess Daly, Marvin Humes and Rochelle Humes
Standing at over 35’ high, the impressive set took five days to build. The technical-rig began last Friday, 9 November, with rehearsals running from Wednesday 14 November through to today. The set is illuminated by more than 170 pieces of lighting, controlled by six lighting desks and a 10-camera set-up has also been configured to capture the antics on the stage and within the 500-strong studio audience.
The post production workflow
The backbone of the Appeal Show, the multiplexer, is in BBC Studioworks’ Elstree post production village. During the Appeal Show’s broadcast, it manages live feeds from multiple UK locations, featuring fundraising and regional stories. This is a bespoke build that intercuts with performances from the studio. All Fundraising, Thank You and Appeal Film VT content will be played into the studio from the multiplexer during tonight’s transmission.
Boyzone take to the Strictly dance floor
EVS XT3 servers will record all content from the studio onto an Avid Nexis system and feed directly to the edit, allowing for highlights montages to be cut for inclusion into the live programme.
Not all the post production action takes place tonight. Activities began last week with BBC Studioworks’ Avid Symphony suites cutting material for multiple live show features, with Avid Pro Tools used for dubbing and voiceovers. This includes a Strictly Come Dancing Boyzone special (also studio facilitated by BBC Studioworks), as well as an ode to Disney by the EastEnders cast.
The EastEnders cast do Disney
Once the live show ends, BBC Studioworks will continue editing into the night with the turnaround of a 60-minute highlights programme for delivery and broadcast on BBC One on Sunday 18 November.
John O’Callaghan, Head of Studios and Post Production, BBC Studioworks said: “Children in Need is not only a great cause, it’s a giant and complex show that sees our teams pull out all the stops to accommodate the productions’ requirements for a seamless live transmission.”
The Children in Need Appeal Show broadcasts live on BBC One from 7:30 tonight.
