Ten Minutes In... ATV Centre Birmingham

[morgansifer]

ATV studios were opened in 1970 by Princess Alexandra. Back then they were the most sophisticated TV studios in Europe. Sad to see how they were allowed to decline to this and subsequent demolition. 37 years is not a very long time.

[DaveyC95]

This is interesting. Don't really remember ATV. It ceased before i was born, but have seen ATV made programmes and the ident which creaks a bit now but is still fab. I did a media studies degree,part of which was a project i did was on ITV regions. All that history and effort and regional brand identity and quality now gone. It is sad and i hate ITV1.

[Feisty1967]

When did ATV studios Birmingham actually open? I know they were building them in '69 as I saw from a previous video I viewed. I assume that all episodes of Crossroads before early '70s would be filmed at Elstree?

[ATVNETWORKLIMITED]

@Feisty1967 ATV's first studios in Birmingham were in Aston Cross and were co-owned with ABC TV Midlands. Alpha TV Studios, which ironically the ATV-ABC funded office block is still standing (and in use) long after its replacement closed. The studio section was demolished and is now a Staples Store. Postcode B6 4DA in Google Maps will take you to the building.

[Feisty1967]

@ATVNETWORKLIMITED Thanks for that info.

[053bss]

There's some nice footage inside the auditorium here on YouTube from an episode of Spitting Image. Search: Spitting Image - Liberal Democrats Meeting.

[sergioMillenovecento]

GREAT

[ATVNETWORKLIMITED]

Just on the comment about the hallways being dark, (The comment has suddently disapeared YT messing about I guess) the studios lit up - bar Studio 1 A - as the bulbs hadn't fused, it seems the hallway ones had been left on as some were glowing at the edge of the bulbs but had all now (Well after ten years on and no repairs going on) had conked out.

[merionyydd]

Thirty years ago I was lucky enough to make numerous visits to ATV centre to interview the 'stars' of the day and watch recordings of Crossroads with the late great Noele Gordon who became a good friend to my shows. I have to thank my dear friend Jean Moreton for giving me such a unique opportunity. I was also lucky to do work for BRMB in ATV's former home at the Alpha studios at Aston Cross........happy days when regional ITV was a class leader.

[ATVINCOLOUR]

its a shame that the ATV studios in brum were closed down i remember them well i guess its all down to money and profit making now for ITV PLC with no productions at all coming from the midlands only local news its the same for other ITV regions all programmes networked now that are made in GB seem to come from London or Manchester is it ITV PLC or GRANADA PLC guess who has controlling shares in business things used to be grim up north but they look after there own

[Central2020]

Sadly, the Birmingham studios are currently being demolished, which is a great shame. Series 1 and 2 of Auf Wiedersehen Pet were made at Lenton Lane Nottingham studios I believe.

[yellowbelly06]

@Central2020 Series 1 was made at the former ATV studios at Elstree (which had to be sold as part of thefranchise being awarded and now owned by the BBC and used for Eastenders). In fact the 'German' building site is the same spot as Albert Square. Studio scenes for series 2 were shot at Nottingham.

[MsEd209]

yellowbelly06 thanks for your comments but you've basically just said what standenberg said over a year ago.

[ruberyb45]

What do you reckon will happen with those studio's?? don't see why they can't use them again. Which Studio was Auf Wiedershen Pet filmed in.

[standenberg]

Fictionally the first series of Auf Wiedersehen Pet was mainly set in the hut on a german building site.

It was a real hut but was filmed (along with the building site) at Elstree studios in Hertfordshire, two years after filming the BBC bought the studios as a home for EastEnders, 23 years on and Albert Square is still at Elstree.

[AidanLunn]

I wish i cud visit the studios - cud take some of those pieces of equipment or a couple of film tins - to return to Granada media.

[retunerman]

Strange to think that ATV's Borehamwood studios has outlived both Birmingham and Nottingham centres. Although rumour has it that Borehamwood's days are numbered. EastEnders is looking for a new home.

[Backintimetv]

That's true retunerman Eastenders' new home could be Pinewood studios.

[retunerman]

I also heard a rumour about Leeds, but Pinewood seems much more likely.

[ATVmidlands5581]

its terribly sad that this grand old place is to be replaced by a shopping/retail park. so many happy memories of ATVLAND!

[Backintimetv]

The ATV Centre is too irreplacable to replace in broad street anyone agree?

[Garethtm18]

Great footage, good to see the place before it finally goes.There are 3 studios there and only 2 on the video. Which studios are featured. As a Tiswas fan I would be interested in knowing if Studio 3 was featured, and if not if anyone has any footage or pictures of what that studio looked like. Great post and thanks.

[CrossroadsFanClub]

The Tiswas one with the balcony is Studio 2, Studio 3 doesn't have a balcony.

[Garethtm18]

Thanks. I thought it was studio 3 that Tiswas came from for most of its run, and in quite a few shows the balcony would feature. The one in your video doesn't have the stairs to the right of the balcony that Chris Tarrant would often be seen running up and down. I'm confused now!Did you get access into S3 on your visit and if so, any pictures or clips?

[CrossroadsFanClub]

There was another staircase but half of it was missing, Maybe studio 3 has been revamped in recent years, but it was grey walls.

[ATVNETWORKLIMITED]

Well when Nigel is speaking in Studio 2 he did say Tiswas was done there, but the game shows were in Studio 1.

[CrossroadsFanClub]

They must have used 3 and 2 for Tiswas. I suppose it depended what was using the bigger studio 2, although New Faces would have been in studio 1, however when it was in 1, Crossroads would be in 2. Confusing LOL. I remember JoAnne Good who was in Crossroads, said they used to go in and watch Tiswas - hence the 'Who needs Crossroads' refs from Chris Tarrent in the show. And she said they were always in the studio 'next to' Tiswas.

[AidanLunn]

I have seen a clip on tiswasonline's channel (the chris tarrant chasing the phantom) where there is a large audience seating area. Would this have been studio 1?

[ATVNETWORKLIMITED]

@AidanLunn Sorry for the delay, the studio seating can be made out at the point of the pine unvarnished wood running down the right wall.

This was used to make the area look nice for gameshows. There is a photo of the studio in operation and it has 'The Golden Shot' in lights down that wall.

[ATVmidlands5581]

i love this old place. sad that as i write its being demolished. very sad indeed. some lovely shots of the ATV centre from many angles. captures the place forever. great post this. thanks you

[ATVNETWORKLIMITED]

September 2nd 2005 for all the inside footage. Some outside was done on the 3rd.

[banburyoddball]

This was great to see again in a 10 min condensed version. Can you confirm what date this goes back too ?

Cheers