Teddington Studios closing?

[Rob K]

Haven't seen this mentioned anywhere else on here - apologies if it has:

www.broadcastnow.co.uk/techfacils/teddington-studios-to-be-replaced-with-housing/5058018.article

If this occurs it'll be heartbreaking.  First TV Centre, now Teddington.  All those classic ABC and Thames shows were made there.  What are we going to see on TV in the future?  More programmes about people buying expensive houses?  More phone-ins on more reality shows?  Or just more repeats from the days when companies like Thames actually made programmes with a broad popular appeal?  As a child of the Eighties I feel this is a particular loss since so many great kids' shows I remember (Rainbow, Sooty, T-Bag, Button Moon) were made at Teddington.  What with this, TV Centre and most of the TVS archive of uncertain status, I feel like someone is actually selling off my childhood.

I may have to go off and watch French Fields and George and Mildred on ITV3 to cheer myself up.

Unbelievable

Rob

[Marie Griffiths]

I think Magpie was from there too.

[Paul Vanezis]

Nov 21, 2014 19:08:18 GMT Marie Griffiths said:

I think Magpie was from there too.

It will be a great shame. I directed the 50th anniversary of 'The Sky at Night' in one of the studios there. It was the same studio that 'Ace of Wands' and 'The Tomorrow People' were recorded in and many of the technicians I worked with worked on those shows. In the studio next door, they were recording Harry Hill's TV Burp.

Paul

[Deleted]

there is a fascinating site here dedicated to Teddington. It says that ' In 1959 ABC installed the UK'S first RCA videotape recorder here.' I wonder if this has implications that programmes recorded on videotape here, may have survived if recorded on videotape?

www.tvstudiohistory.co.uk/studio%20history.htm#teddington early

[brianfretwell]

I see, from the ABC piece on Network's site that this was converted to TV from Warner Film Studios, so has an even longer history than as ABC/Thames studios.

[Deleted]

It seems to be true. I recently went there to watch a recording of Still Open All Hours starring David Jason and they mentioned in the preamble that they were very proud of the history of the studios but that this was the final thing to be shot there. Very sad. A film studio first, then ABC TV, followed by Thames and finally an independent. The walls are contain pictures and inscriptions to all the stars who appeared there and the famous programmes made. Definitely the end of an era and it seems they're going to turn the place into luxury apartments (which makes me angry).