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Visit to BBC Broadcasting House
22nd April 2023 @ 10:30 am - 1:00 pm
£10.00
It was following his visit to the BBC’s original, and rather unattractive premises, that the Corporation’s first Director General, John Reith, declared that Belfast should have a ‘proper’ Broadcasting House. After protracted efforts to find a suitable site, the BBC bought a linen warehouse on Ormeau Avenue. The acclaimed Scottish architect, James Miller, was commissioned to draw up plans for a new building. Construction began shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War. Remarkably, the BBC building opened on May 5th, 1941, the morning after the heaviest German air raid of the period known as ‘The Belfast Blitz’.
Due to its architectural and historical significance, Belfast’s modernist-style Broadcasting House was given listed status in 1994. It is one of only two purpose-built ‘architecturally branded’ BBC buildings left in the U.K.
The visit will begin at 10.30 a.m. with an illustrated talk by Andrew Colman, (formerly Head of News and Current Affairs at BBC NI), on the origins and history of Broadcasting House. This will be followed by a tour of the radio and television studios. Tea and coffee will be served.
Timings: 10.30 am – 1 pm (approx.)
Refreshments: Tea and Coffee will be served.
Open to members and non-members
Cost: £10
Ticket sales for this event will end at 5pm 20/04/23 .
Note for attendees: The BBC has requested that names of all participants are provided before this event. Once you have purchased tickets, please email the names of the members attending by 20/04/2023 to: [email protected] using Subject heading ‘Broadcasting House’.
