BBC Studioworks provided studio space and technical services for six different titles across February, including several game shows, a live primetime music competition and a multi-award-winning internationally successful drama.
The culmination of these multiple productions has seen BBC Studioworks facilitate over 55 episodes of television in one month, totalling over 50 hours of content.
The successful delivery of high profile television productions from Elstree has seen BBC Studioworks commit to the London studios market by extending its partnership with Elstree Studios until March 2020.
Live event TV
Skilled at accommodating a full range of television genres, BBC Studioworks demonstrated its expertise in delivering live broadcasting as it welcomed the quarter, semi and grand final rounds of BBC One’s primetime Saturday night musical talent show, Let It Shine, to its Elstree production hub.
Presenters Mel Giedroyc and Graham Norton address the nation live on Let It Shine
The three live episodes were hosted by BBC Studioworks in the same 15,770 sq. ft. studio used by Strictly Come Dancing, George Lucas Stage 2, in front of an audience of 500. With a 16-camera set up and a complex audio configuration to capture the multiple performers, judges and presenters, the production also made full use of BBC Studioworks’ state-of-the-art production galleries.
New shows come to Studioworks
Across early February DLT Entertainment brought series two of Dave’s popular comedy panel show, Dara O Briain’s Go 8 Bit, to BBC Studioworks’ 11,800 sq. ft. Studio D.
A new addition to BBC Studioworks, the show sees resident team captains Steve McNeil and Sam Pamphilon and celebrity guests compete against each other at a mixture of retro and modern computer games, with host Dara O Briain keeping everyone in check.
On set: Dara O’Briain in BBC Studioworks’ Studio D at Elstree
A number of different games were used by the production, including arcade games, all from a wide variety of consoles produced over the last 35 years. This meant BBC Studioworks had to implement a variety of different scan converters and configurations in order to get video and audio to the main screen on the studio floor for gameplay, with as little delay in vision and audio as possible.
The show returns to BBC Studioworks in April and May to record its third series.
Behind-the-scenes: the set of This Time Next Year in Stage 8
Also embarking on its first BBC Studioworks residency is ITV’s This Time Next Year. Produced by Twofour, the show started the record of its six-episode second-series in BBC Studioworks’ 7,550 sq. ft. Stage 8 at the end of February.
The show is presented by Davina McCall and sees people pledging to make a drastic change in their lives across the course of a year.
Critically acclaimed, multi-award-winning drama
The second series of Netflix’s biographical drama series, The Crown, also made use of Stage 8 during February. The multi Golden Globe and Stage Actors Guild award-winning show, a biographical story about the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, made use of BBC Studioworks’ Stage 8 as well as electrical craft staff to assist during their time in the studio.
The cast of Netflix’s The Crown
Netflix is yet to announce a release date for the second series, but the streaming service has confirmed that the series will cover the period between 1955 and 1964.
The home of ITV’s most popular gameshow
BBC Studioworks’ Stage 9 has also been a hive of activity throughout February, as the 7,550 sq. ft. studio housed two separate ITV games shows.
Potato’s’ The Chase, winner of the National Television Award for Most Popular Daytime Programme 2017, is currently producing 170 episodes at BBC Studioworks for the show’s eleventh series. Across February and late January, the production team utilised Stage 9 for three separate recording blocks, totalling 34 episodes in 12 days. The production team will return to BBC Studioworks to continue its series record in March with 36 episodes.
Presenter of The Chase, Bradley Walsh
Following The Chase’s final studio block in February, Stage 9 was hired by Possessed (ITV Studios’ entertainment production label) for the second series of ITV game show Cash Trapped. Created and presented by Bradley Walsh (who also fronts The Chase), Cash Trapped sees six contestants battle it out across a series of fast-paced question rounds whilst actively trying to sabotage their opponents.
The second series is made up of 25 episodes, with BBC Studioworks providing full studio and technical services. The set builds, technical rig and the record of the first episode all took place in the final days of February, with the remaining episodes recording across March.
