BBC Manchester
Encyclopedia
BBC Manchester is the British Broadcasting Corporation regional headquarters for the North West
, the largest BBC region in the UK. BBC Manchester also forms a key part of BBC North
.
The BBC considers the Manchester department as one of its three main bases alongside London
and Bristol
. BBC Manchester currently has three main studio bases totalling 12 studios, at New Broadcasting House
, MediaCityUK and the Granada Studios through 3SixtyMedia
but by 2013 the department will be based wholly at MediaCityUK which offers seven HD studios.
BBC Manchester struggled during the early 2000s when Granada Television reduced operations in Manchester which meant New Broadcasting House
and Granada Studios were underused. The BBC responded in 2004 by deciding to relocate departments from London to Manchester to boost the ailing Manchester media industry and represent the north of England more proportionally.
New programmes such as Life on Mars
, Dragons' Den
and Waterloo Road
were all commissioned soon after and Manchester is now Europe's 2nd largest creative industry in Europe. BBC Manchester has conceived programmes such as Top of the Pops
, Songs of Praise
, Mastermind
, A Question of Sport
, It's a Knockout
, Robot Wars
and Red Dwarf
.
Manchester was home to the BBC's first studio outside of London in 1954 with the acquisition of Dickenson Road Studios in Rusholme, which was a converted church. The BBC formed BBC Manchester in the 1950s and the Manchester department bought the studios from Mancunian Films
. The BBC expanded to form another production centre, BBC Piccadilly Studios in Manchester city centre
in 1957. This production centre remained until 1975 when facilities moved to New Broadcasting House
.
The studios were famous for Top of the Pops which began filming on New Year's Day 1964 in Studio A at the Dickenson Road Studios. DJs Jimmy Savile
and Alan Freeman
presented the first show, which featured (in order) The Rolling Stones
with "I Wanna Be Your Man
", Dusty Springfield
with "I Only Want to Be with You
", the Dave Clark Five
with "Glad All Over", The Hollies
with "Stay", The Swinging Blue Jeans
with "Hippy Hippy Shake
" and The Beatles
with "I Want to Hold Your Hand
", that week's number one (throughout its history, the programme always finished with the best-selling single of the week). For the first three years Savile rotated with three other presenters: Alan Freeman
, Pete Murray and David Jacobs
. A Mancunian model, Samantha Juste
, was the regular "disc girl". Local photographer Harry Goodwin
was hired to provide shots of non-appearing artists, and also to provide backdrops for the chart rundown. He would continue in the role until 1973.
In 1972, local broadcaster Stuart Hall hosted It's a Knockout
. Stuart Hall remarked that the programme was like "the Olympic Games with custard pies". The programme was revived under BBC Manchester's ownership with viewing figures surging from 100,000 to 15 million.
The early 2000's were tough for BBC Manchester and the diminishing Granada Television as a result of the ITV takeover in 2004 affected the level of programme production. 3SixtyMedia Studios at Granada Studios and New Broadcasting House only had enough filming work to operate two studios, despite having five available.
The BBC reacted by giving BBC Manchester more commissioning work and Dragons' Den
and Life on Mars
were two successes for the BBC.
The BBC's first Big Screen was erected in Manchester. The Screen became a permanent feature of Exchange Square in 2003 after a successful trial in Manchester during key events such as the 2002 Commonwealth Games
, the Golden Jubilee in 2002
and the 2002 Football World Cup.
since 1975.
New Broadcasting House has one small studio and one large studio, Studio A which is equip for live programming and recording drama programmes. Studio A underwent a major £6 million expansion in 1989 which increased the studios volume by 80%. Upon completion it was the largest BBC Studio outside London at 6204 ft.
In 2003, as BBC Pacific Quay, The Mailbox
and BBC White City
were being redeveloped it was touted the New Broadcasting House site could be redeveloped but this idea was eventually shelved to create a new purpose-built television studios.
and ITV Granada, BBC Manchester owns 20% of Granada through 3SixtyMedia
. Granada Television were formerly a rival to the BBC's hegemony, but since 2000 BBC employees have produced and filmed programmes at Granada Studios.
The merger in 2000 aimed to cut costs for the BBC and Granada. The merger also gave the BBC greater use of the Granada Studios which are far larger than New Broadcasting House with three large studios and a number of drama studios compared with NBH which only has two multi-use studios.
The Granada Studios are referred to neutrally as 3SixtyMedia Studios reflecting joint ITV and BBC ownership.
.
North West England
North West England, informally known as The North West, is one of the nine official regions of England.North West England had a 2006 estimated population of 6,853,201 the third most populated region after London and the South East...
, the largest BBC region in the UK. BBC Manchester also forms a key part of BBC North
BBC North
BBC North is a brand used by the BBC to mean any of the following.*The large BBC North region, centred on Manchester, that was active from the late 1920s until 1968....
.
The BBC considers the Manchester department as one of its three main bases alongside London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
. BBC Manchester currently has three main studio bases totalling 12 studios, at New Broadcasting House
New Broadcasting House
New Broadcasting House is the home of the BBC on Oxford Road in Manchester city centre. The studios house BBC Manchester, BBC North, BBC North West, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and the BBC Religion and Ethics department...
, MediaCityUK and the Granada Studios through 3SixtyMedia
3SixtyMedia
3sixtymedia is a joint venture production facilities company, based in Manchester and co-owned by Granada Television and BBC Manchester...
but by 2013 the department will be based wholly at MediaCityUK which offers seven HD studios.
BBC Manchester struggled during the early 2000s when Granada Television reduced operations in Manchester which meant New Broadcasting House
New Broadcasting House
New Broadcasting House is the home of the BBC on Oxford Road in Manchester city centre. The studios house BBC Manchester, BBC North, BBC North West, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and the BBC Religion and Ethics department...
and Granada Studios were underused. The BBC responded in 2004 by deciding to relocate departments from London to Manchester to boost the ailing Manchester media industry and represent the north of England more proportionally.
New programmes such as Life on Mars
Life on Mars (TV series)
Life on Mars is a British television series broadcast on BBC One between January 2006 and April 2007. The series combines elements of science fiction and police procedural....
, Dragons' Den
Dragons' Den (UK)
Dragons' Den is a British television series, hosted by Evan Davis. The format of the show is owned by Sony Pictures and is based on the original Japanese series, which has been sold around the world...
and Waterloo Road
Waterloo Road (TV series)
Waterloo Road is an award-winning British television drama series, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 9 March 2006. Set in a troubled comprehensive school in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, the series focuses on the lives of the school's teacher and students, and confronts social...
were all commissioned soon after and Manchester is now Europe's 2nd largest creative industry in Europe. BBC Manchester has conceived programmes such as Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
, Songs of Praise
Songs of Praise
Songs of Praise is a BBC Television programme based around traditional Christian hymns. It is a widely watched and long-running religious television programme, one of the few peak-time free-to-air religious programmes in Europe Songs of Praise is a BBC Television programme based around traditional...
, Mastermind
Mastermind (TV series)
Mastermind is a British quiz show, well known for its challenging questions, intimidating setting and air of seriousness.Devised by Bill Wright, the basic format of Mastermind has never changed — four and in later contests five contestants face two rounds, one on a specialised subject of the...
, A Question of Sport
A Question of Sport
A Question of Sport is a long-running BBC quiz show which started on 2 December 1968 and continues to this day. It is currently recorded at The Studios, MediaCityUK...
, It's a Knockout
It's a Knockout
It's a Knockout was adapted from the French show Intervilles. It ran between from 7 August 1966 to 25 December 1988 on BBC1, 28 May 1990 on ITV, 3 August 1991 to 24 December 1994 on S4C and from 3 September 1999 to 6 January 2001 on Channel 5, produced by Richard Hearsey and Ronin Entertainment...
, Robot Wars
Robot Wars (TV series)
Robot Wars is a British game show modelled on a US-based competition of the same name. It was broadcast on BBC Two from 1998 until 2003, with its final series broadcast on Five in 2003 and 2004. Additional series were filmed for specific sectors of the global market, including two series of Robot...
and Red Dwarf
Red Dwarf
Red Dwarf is a British comedy franchise which primarily comprises eight series of a television science fiction sitcom that aired on BBC Two between 1988 and 1999 and Dave from 2009–present. It gained cult following. It was created by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, who also wrote the first six series...
.
History
Mancunian Films
Mancunian Films was a British motion picture production company organized in 1934.Founded by John E. Blakeley, the company originally produced films in London on extremely low budgets. Blakeley's first studio consisted of a single soundstage in a loft space above a taxi garage...
. The BBC expanded to form another production centre, BBC Piccadilly Studios in Manchester city centre
Manchester City Centre
Manchester city centre is the central business district of Manchester, England. It lies within the Manchester Inner Ring Road, next to the River Irwell...
in 1957. This production centre remained until 1975 when facilities moved to New Broadcasting House
New Broadcasting House
New Broadcasting House is the home of the BBC on Oxford Road in Manchester city centre. The studios house BBC Manchester, BBC North, BBC North West, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and the BBC Religion and Ethics department...
.
The studios were famous for Top of the Pops which began filming on New Year's Day 1964 in Studio A at the Dickenson Road Studios. DJs Jimmy Savile
Jimmy Savile
Sir James Wilson Vincent Savile, OBE, KCSG was an English disc jockey, television presenter and media personality, best known for his BBC television show Jim'll Fix It, and for being the first and last presenter of the long-running BBC music chart show Top of the Pops...
and Alan Freeman
Alan Freeman
Alan Leslie "Fluff" Freeman, MBE was a British disc jockey and radio personality in the United Kingdom for 40 years.-Career:...
presented the first show, which featured (in order) The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
with "I Wanna Be Your Man
I Wanna Be Your Man
"I Wanna Be Your Man" is a Lennon–McCartney-penned song that was recorded separately by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. The Rolling Stones' version was released a few weeks earlier...
", Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'BrienSources use both Isabel and Isobel as the spelling of her second name. OBE , known professionally as Dusty Springfield and dubbed The White Queen of Soul, was a British pop singer whose career extended from the late 1950s to the 1990s...
with "I Only Want to Be with You
I Only Want to Be with You
"I Only Want to Be with You" is a rock-and-roll song by Mike Hawker and Ivor Raymonde. It was the first solo single released by British singer Dusty Springfield under her long-time producer Johnny Franz...
", the Dave Clark Five
The Dave Clark Five
The Dave Clark Five were an English pop rock group. Their single "Glad All Over" knocked The Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand" off the top of the UK singles charts in January 1964: it eventually peaked at No.6 in the United States in April 1964.They were the second group of the British Invasion,...
with "Glad All Over", The Hollies
The Hollies
The Hollies are an English pop and rock group, formed in Manchester in the early 1960s, though most of the band members are from throughout East Lancashire. Known for their distinctive vocal harmony style, they became one of the leading British groups of the 1960s and 1970s...
with "Stay", The Swinging Blue Jeans
The Swinging Blue Jeans
The Swinging Blue Jeans were a four piece 1960s British Merseybeat band, best known for their hit singles with the HMV label; "Hippy Hippy Shake", the follow-up, Little Richard's "Good Golly Miss Molly", and "You're No Good", a Clint Ballard song that provided a change of pace and furnished the...
with "Hippy Hippy Shake
Hippy Hippy Shake
Hippy Hippy Shake is a song written and recorded by Chan Romero in 1959. That same year, the song reached number three in Australia.A cover version by Italian rocker Little Tony appeared in the same year and found moderate success in the United Kingdom and Italy.A version by UK-based band The...
" and The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
with "I Want to Hold Your Hand
I Want to Hold Your Hand
"I Want to Hold Your Hand" is a song by the English rock band The Beatles. Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, and recorded in October 1963, it was the first Beatles record to be made using four-track equipment....
", that week's number one (throughout its history, the programme always finished with the best-selling single of the week). For the first three years Savile rotated with three other presenters: Alan Freeman
Alan Freeman
Alan Leslie "Fluff" Freeman, MBE was a British disc jockey and radio personality in the United Kingdom for 40 years.-Career:...
, Pete Murray and David Jacobs
David Jacobs (disc jockey)
David Lewis Jacobs CBE is a British actor and broadcaster who gained prominence as presenter of the peak-time BBC Television show Juke Box Jury and the BBC Radio 4 political forum, Any Questions?-Early career:...
. A Mancunian model, Samantha Juste
Samantha Juste
Samantha Juste , became known on British television in the mid-1960s as the “disc girl” on the BBC’s Top of the Pops. In 1968 she married Micky Dolenz of the Monkees. Their daughter is the actress Ami Dolenz....
, was the regular "disc girl". Local photographer Harry Goodwin
Harry Goodwin
Harry Goodwin is a British photographer, known for his photographs of pop musicians and sports personalities. He was the resident photographer of the BBC Television programme Top of the Pops from its inception in 1964 until 1973.-Career:...
was hired to provide shots of non-appearing artists, and also to provide backdrops for the chart rundown. He would continue in the role until 1973.
In 1972, local broadcaster Stuart Hall hosted It's a Knockout
It's a Knockout
It's a Knockout was adapted from the French show Intervilles. It ran between from 7 August 1966 to 25 December 1988 on BBC1, 28 May 1990 on ITV, 3 August 1991 to 24 December 1994 on S4C and from 3 September 1999 to 6 January 2001 on Channel 5, produced by Richard Hearsey and Ronin Entertainment...
. Stuart Hall remarked that the programme was like "the Olympic Games with custard pies". The programme was revived under BBC Manchester's ownership with viewing figures surging from 100,000 to 15 million.
The early 2000's were tough for BBC Manchester and the diminishing Granada Television as a result of the ITV takeover in 2004 affected the level of programme production. 3SixtyMedia Studios at Granada Studios and New Broadcasting House only had enough filming work to operate two studios, despite having five available.
The BBC reacted by giving BBC Manchester more commissioning work and Dragons' Den
Dragons' Den (UK)
Dragons' Den is a British television series, hosted by Evan Davis. The format of the show is owned by Sony Pictures and is based on the original Japanese series, which has been sold around the world...
and Life on Mars
Life on Mars (TV series)
Life on Mars is a British television series broadcast on BBC One between January 2006 and April 2007. The series combines elements of science fiction and police procedural....
were two successes for the BBC.
News
BBC Manchester is responsible for BBC North West Tonight which is broadcast from New Broadcasting House. Regional offices are located in Blackburn, Chester and LiverpoolBBC Big Screen
2002 Commonwealth Games
The 2002 Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester, England from 25 July to 4 August 2002. The XVII Commonwealth Games was the largest multi-sport event ever to be held in the UK, eclipsing London's 1948 Summer Olympics in numbers of teams and athletes participating.After the 1996 Manchester...
, the Golden Jubilee in 2002
Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II
The Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II was the international celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the accession of Elizabeth II to the thrones of seven countries, upon the death of her father, George VI, on 6 February 1952, and was intended by the Queen to be both a commemoration of her 50...
and the 2002 Football World Cup.
New Broadcasting House
BBC Manchester are currently transferring to MediaCityUK, but its main base has been New Broadcasting House on Oxford Road in Manchester city centreManchester City Centre
Manchester city centre is the central business district of Manchester, England. It lies within the Manchester Inner Ring Road, next to the River Irwell...
since 1975.
New Broadcasting House has one small studio and one large studio, Studio A which is equip for live programming and recording drama programmes. Studio A underwent a major £6 million expansion in 1989 which increased the studios volume by 80%. Upon completion it was the largest BBC Studio outside London at 6204 ft.
In 2003, as BBC Pacific Quay, The Mailbox
The Mailbox
The Mailbox is an upmarket development of offices, designer shops, restaurants, bars and luxury city-centre apartments in the City Centre and on the boundary of the City Centre Core in Birmingham, West Midlands, England. It includes a mini supermarket and three art galleries: the Artlounge, Castle...
and BBC White City
BBC White City
BBC White City refers both to a collection of BBC buildings at Wood Lane, White City in west London, and an office building opened in 1990 within that collection of buildings...
were being redeveloped it was touted the New Broadcasting House site could be redeveloped but this idea was eventually shelved to create a new purpose-built television studios.
Granada Studios
Although famous for Granada TelevisionGranada Television
Granada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
and ITV Granada, BBC Manchester owns 20% of Granada through 3SixtyMedia
3SixtyMedia
3sixtymedia is a joint venture production facilities company, based in Manchester and co-owned by Granada Television and BBC Manchester...
. Granada Television were formerly a rival to the BBC's hegemony, but since 2000 BBC employees have produced and filmed programmes at Granada Studios.
The merger in 2000 aimed to cut costs for the BBC and Granada. The merger also gave the BBC greater use of the Granada Studios which are far larger than New Broadcasting House with three large studios and a number of drama studios compared with NBH which only has two multi-use studios.
The Granada Studios are referred to neutrally as 3SixtyMedia Studios reflecting joint ITV and BBC ownership.
The Studios, MediaCityUK
BBC Manchester is currently in the process of transferring to MediaCityUK which is located two miles away from its current base at New Broadcasting House in Salford QuaysSalford Quays
Salford Quays is an area of Salford in Greater Manchester, England, near the end of the Manchester Ship Canal. Previously the site of Manchester Docks, it became one of the first and largest urban regeneration projects in the United Kingdom following the closure of the dockyards in...
.