Wander along the river, by here, on a weekday morning and it is quite possible you will be grabbed to taste something or have a medical test etcyes it happens a LOT!
When LWT succeeded ATV for the London weekend ITV franchise in 1968, it bought Associated-Rediffusion's old studios at Wembley (now known as The Fountain Studios).
These studios were originally film studios and dated back from the 1920s. Although successfully converted for TV in the 1950s, the new LWT wanted its own, new, modern studios and so designs were soon drawn up.
The site for the development was chosen besides the new Royal National Theatre on the South Bank of the River Thames. It was purchased in 1969 and construction work
commenced in 1970 with the centre opening for transmission in 1972, although it was not fully operational until 1974. At that time it was the most advanced television centre in
Europe.
The studios are easily recognisable by the 21 storey black and white layered tower (called Kent House). Between the tower block and the River Thames is the main studio block, housing the three largest studios (1, 2 and 3), the restaurant, offices, make-up and wardrobe.
On the east side of the site, there is Gabriel's Wharf. Previously belonging to Younger's Brewery, this three storey building was added later to the site as a scenery store.
When This Morning moved from its studio in Liverpool, 3000 square feet from the first storey on the riverside was converted into a studio (named studio 8). As well as studios, the site houses programme edit suites, dubbing suites, production offices,studio booths and graphic booths.There are also weather studios producing the ITV national, and some of the network's regional,forecasts.
There have been a total of 9 different studios during the complex's lifespan, but currently there are seven.
The big studio is home to programmes such as Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, The Graham Norton Show and Al Murray's Happy Hour. The studio has seating area, can accommodate audiences of nearly 600. This makes the studio popular for large audience based shows.
Studio 2
The second largest has Have I Got News For You for audiences of up to nearly 400. The studio can also be used as a bare shell as the audience seating structure can be moved out.
Studio 3
Loose Women, ITV Sport Specials and Katie & Peter: Unleashed. The studio has also been the home to some
news/current affairs shows. It can accommodate audiences of up to 150. The studio also has an in-the-round seating with up to 108 audience capacity, with the presenters and
set in the middle with the audiences seated around them.
There has never been a studio 6???
This Morning is in studio 8 ..the one with the big windows.
Paul o Grady has his show here too but not sure which studioanyway most shows are free tickets and you can apply for many online. read more