harryfielder

From Paul Burton.....

Hi Aitch,

Just read this on the Times website:

The Queen Vic’s windows are cracked and the walls are peeling. So run-down has the old place become that EastEnders are being evicted because the shabby sets do not meet the scrutiny of HighDefinition (HD) television.

The BBC is preparing to move Albert Square from the 16-acre Elstree studios in Borehamwood, Hertford-shire, which have formed the backdrop to the flagship soap since 1985. EastEnders is expected to share space with 007 at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, under proposals being recommended by BBC bosses.
The 28-mile move is required because, after more than 20 years, the Elstree sets are showing the wear and tear of Walford’s stormy history. Never designed as a permanent fixture, Albert Square has been patched up over the years, often in bursts of late-night activity. One operation involving scaffolding even had to be written into the script.

The effects of cut-price renovation jobs are all too clearly visible on HD. A source said: “You can see every crack, chipboard flake and Blu-Tack solution. HD also shows that the set isn’t built of real brick.”

A BBC memo to drama producers warns: “Using HD will highlight scenery defects such as repeat taping and painting over scenery flattage joins, knocks and damage, dirt and scuff marks. Knocks, scratches, general wear and tear are distinctly noticeable and need additional time and effort to rectify.” The memo says producers must add in the cost of “repairs and revamping scenery” at a time when BBC budgets are being cut.

The cost-effective solution for EastEnders is a move to a new brick and concrete-built set at Pinewood, allowing the Elstree studios to be sold. The hospital series Holby City, another Elstree drama, is also expected to move and show the benefits of an HD “deep clean”, along with Casualty.
The “warts and all” reality of HD, which enhances sports and natural history programmes, is unforgiving when it comes to close-ups. Cosmetic surgeons reported a surge in business from actors and newsreaders when the technology hit the high street.

The BBC launched its own HD channel last year to showcase programmes such as Planet Earth and Bleak House. All new programmes intended for international sale must be shot in HD to meet the demands of US broadcasters.

A research group, Screen Digest, forecasts that by the end of the year 11.3 million (40 per cent) of British homes will be equipped with HD-ready televisions, compared with the current 6.5 million homes.

Albert Square was designed by the late Keith Harris, the senior designer in the EastEnders production team. Extensions including a fictional Tube station have been added over the years. Executives are in talks with Pinewood Shepperton for about 200,000 sq ft (18,580 sq m) of studio space. Other sites in contention for Albert Square include Bristol, Cardiff and Belfast.
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Very worrying!

Cheers

Paul

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Carmel

Coronation Street is the same the paint work on all the front doors is awful and does nobody think of cleaning up the back yards to make them look at least modern a few pots or a barbacue here and there would be better, also the net curtains please i ask you if they are going to use net curtains instead of blinds at least wash them now and then.

Live each day to the full because one day it will be your last.

harryfielder

I was thinking more of the loss to Elstree if the BBC sell off the studios.
I haven't watched EE in years. I used to enjoy when it started.

Aitch,

http://www.turnipnet.com/aitch/aitch/gallery.htm

smudge

Given the property prices round Elstree, Aitch, they'll soon have the site submerged in a housing estate/flats development with bogus street names which 'pay tribute' to the stars of the past who once worked on the site...

My mate who works at the Beeb tipped me off about these sale plans being firmed up weeks ago.

Like you say, it'll be a terrible loss in terms of the town's history.

Smudge

Welcome to my house. Enter freely, and of your own will...

Mark O

Me too!.......can't stand the 'confrontational' atmosphere that seems to be prevalent in this soap......it's all "woss goin' on", and "you're doin' my 'ead in", it would certainly do my 'ead in if I ever watched this again!!

The Tower Block in Borehamwood that's in the set's backdrop is also in the opening scenes of the Movie 'Mutiny on the Buses'........are they going to recreate a Tower block at Pinewood also?

Mark

David Brent

Forget the scenery how about the replacement and redevelopment of all the crap scriptwriters the show uses?

Dave.

hankoler

We have a BRITS LEAVING IN DROVES THREAD how about shipping the whole of EE to OZ and give us something bright and cheerful to watch instead.

marker

I gave up watching this pile of crap years ago and it obviously has not improved

Cheers Marker

BillTurner80

Must get my eyes tested - I read this post as 'Eastenders - The Movie!
Sharon Stone as Dot Cotton? Sigourney Weaver as Pauline?

Marky B

Same here,Bill.
Ta Ta
Marky B

I am special. The heavens always open for me.

Steve Crook

Hmmm, Sigouney Weaver in the laundrette

Steve

BillTurner80

It's certainly a thought

faginsgirl

Will there be a massive plane crash like on Emmerdale?

We`re changin` lodggggggggings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

kelp

Further to Aitche's comments above. Zarin Patel, Group Finance Director has said in "ariel" (our trade paper) "At the moment there is no buyer on the horizon, and if there were, it would have to be at the right price. "if someone came along and offered us £500,million I would have to think about it. if they offered 10 million I'd say "try again mate". Given the economic crunch, my guess is that no one will be paying for Elstree in the next two years.
Meanwhile working at Birminghm's Drama Village last week, they are still awaiting news of a proposed move to Manchester (see my notes elsewhere on the forum) "It's all up in the air one person told me....like waiting for the other shoe to drop".

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR...YOU MAY GET IT!

alan gowdy

I watched the very first episode of Eastenders all those years ago, found it unappealing and never repeated the exercise. Whenever I see clips or trailers for the current plotlines all it seems to consist of is couples or groups of people shouting at each other. Dreadful.

It would be such a shame to see yet another studio close though - to be replaced by streets of houses named after the stars whose place of work they have destroyed. Oh the hypocrisy of it!