The Studio – Media City

If you get the chance to become an audience member for a show at these studios I would highly recommend it. We had the good fortune to get tickets for 8 out of 10 cats does countdown and it was excellent. A thoroughly enjoyable evening that flowed at lot faster than I imagined.
There is also a bar before you go into the studio for a few cheeky drinks although quite pricey!

Went to a BBC Media City tour a few weeks ago. I didn’t know exactly what we would be seeing but I hoped to see the Match of the Day studio. And kind of the Blue Peter studio although I have not watch it for ages and last time was when it was based in London.
There was a tour group every 15 minutes or so. Our group had about 15 people. We saw the group before and it was about the same. You go round with a couple tour guides who seemed to know everything and were very enthusiastic and informative.
We got to see the actual Blue Peter studio and an actual working Radio 6 Music studio. Also part of the tour was a mockup BBC Breakfast studio with the sofa and the weather screen. A couple people volunteered and presented the news, reading off an autocue.
Another couple people also presented the news — this was done in front of a «green screen». Unlike the news, the weather had no autocue so they made it up as they went along. It was interesting to learn that the weather after the news is sort of a buffer. So depending how long the news goes on, determines how long the weather needs to be.
Sometimes if the news overruns, they may only have a minute or less so they need to be very concise with the weather. However, if they have longer, they need to pad more. Apparently this is when you may see the weather person having a bit of a wander, talking to the news presenters. Maybe asking what they are doing this weekend :)
There was a mockup Question of Sport area so I pretended to be a panelist and answer the guess who picture round questions.
Unfortunately, we did not get to check out the Match of the Day studio since the show was on that evening. Shame :(
We were told about on one floor in one of the buildings is like the BBC Research and Development bit which is all top secret and secure. The tour guides said they have never been in — because they would end up telling people all the secrets. I would love to check it out. Just imagine that iPlayer was probably thought of etc a few years before it was actually released to the public. What they are doing now will probably be seen by us in 2 – 3 years!

Saw Jeremy Kyle here so this review is based on my day here.
My mother had gained tickets to watch a recording of the show (in fact 2 recordings per session).
When we arrived there where two lines to join
1^st come 1^st served & Priority
If this is your 1^st time then it will be 1^st come 1^st served and if you have been before but been refused entry due to over subscription then you will be priority.
We had to cue for 4 hours (over run of the 1^st session of recordings) but normally depending on your eagerness to gain entry its normally around two hours of waiting (we wanted to be near the front of the cue)
There are no refreshments given to you by the studio staff so make sure you take something to eat.
There is a WH Smiths at the Studio but its like a Train Station version…(expensive).
If you do manage to gain entrance its a fun day and very different to how you see it on TV.
If i was to do it again i would make sure i have a Plan B in place just incase i didnt gain entry.
(would be awful to spend all day there and then not get entry)