BB House getting knocked down in September?!

[cizzah97]

I was just on the Elstree Studios website (don't ask how I got there:laugh:) but I read an article about the studios being renovated and then I stumbled across this ..

"Elstree will begin clearing wasteland at the site for a third large stage to be built when the 14th series of Big Brother concludes in September"

It seems a bit weird that they'd wait untill THEN, PLUS I did hear something about the contract ending?? I might be reading too much into it but why wait until BB ends to "begin clearing wasteland" ??

Thoughts ..

[Marcus.]

really awwwwwww

[Firewire]

wasteland is land that is waste

they're going to clear fields around in order to build a new studio/stage

it says nothing about knocking down the house

[cizzah97]

hmm :conf: I may be wrong but..

[cizzah97]

wasteland is land that is waste

they're going to clear fields around in order to build a new studio/stage

it says nothing about knocking down the house


but why wait until AFTER?

[Mrmattybeck]

I was just on the Elstree Studios website (don't ask how I got there:laugh:) but I read an article about the studios being renovated and then I stumbled across this ..

"Elstree will begin clearing wasteland at the site for a third large stage to be built when the 14th series of Big Brother concludes in September"

It seems a bit weird that they'd wait untill THEN, PLUS I did hear something about the contract ending?? I might be reading too much into it but why wait until BB ends to "begin clearing wasteland" ??

Thoughts ..
I'm pretty certain channel 5 will sign a new deal which h keeps bb on the channel till 2016 so bb should be fine could move location though

[cizzah97]

I was beginning to think that.. perhaps a location change? make it look a bit more like a house, a white block is a bit boring LOL:joker:

[iRyan]

It has nothing to do with Big Brother. It's just so loud construction is not occurring in the area while BB is in production.

They already signed a deal that BB will continue into 2014.

[JohnnyBB]

well the location of the house will havw to move soon anyway after starwars begins filming at elstree theyll need all the space they can get.

[iRyan]

It has nothing to do with Big Brother. It's just so loud construction is not occurring in the area while BB is in production.

They already signed a deal that BB will continue into 2014.

[Firewire]

but why wait until AFTER?

because they might need to move the stage to get construction vehicles in, it could be destructive to the show so they're waiting until after.

[cizzah97]

LOL think I just read too much into it, we'll see though, a change of location would be good, that white block of a house gets boring

[Firewire]

LOL think I just read too much into it, we'll see though, a change of location would be good, that white block of a house gets boring

well it isn't going to happen, like the article said, "wasteland", which the BB house is not.

[zakman440]

Well, fingers crossed that C5 can get access to that new studio, maybe this could be the end of the stands!

[cizzah97]

Well, fingers crossed that C5 can get access to that new studio, maybe this could be the end of the stands!


we think alike buddy

[Marsh.]

If anything, this "large stage" sounds like preparation for Star Wars or something. I doubt BB would get it.

[daniel-lewis-1985]

but why wait until AFTER?

Because it would disrupt the show to have a big demolition team around the BB set lol.

Its all grass land around that part of the house and I hope they done get rid of that coz the other side are residential streets which kills the effect.

[BBDodge]

The area being cleared is "the Mound" which is contaminated land.

From the Hertsmere Council meeting minutes, 14.11.12:

"ELSTREE STUDIOS - MOUND CLEARANCE
The meeting was informed (report C/12/35) that funding of £4.5m had
been secured to fund the remediation of 3.8 acres of land at Elstree
Studios. The £4.5m was made up of a £2m loan received from
Hertfordshire LEP, with the remainder from the Council.
The land to be remediated was presently contaminated and specialist
contractors would be employed to return it to use. Once completed the
land could be used to build another stage or build workshops. The
addition of new facilities would help secure the future of the Studios as
a production site for both television and film."

[kingston]

As long as Channel 5 are willing to produce more BB I don't think Elstree will turn them down... If anything they may ask them to relocate if Elstree plan on redeveloping the area the house is located in but even then I doubt that will happen...

On another note, I don't understand why so many of you dislike the stands? TBH they make the area in front of the house look like an outdoor studio... The previous set up just looked like it was filmed in a parking lot and they never really got the set-up right in the Channel 4 era... It also became very apparent towards the end of the run that crowds were shrinking and with the stands the area looks better used and the crowd looks a lot more dense...

[Marsh.]

The previous set up on channel 4 was great (at least in the middle years).

I don't like how 5 overdo the outside set, with all its gimmicky turning eyes and crap. Less is more.

[Brekkie]

Sounds like it's new land being built on, not existing property.

If Elstree could house BB elsewhere on site (which they currently can't) though it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world for the house to be bulldozed. I suspect if they were ever forced to move they'd go for building a house on a sound stage if possible rather than building a new house - it seems to be the preferred method now for Big Brother's around the world and gives producers a bit more control over the house itself.

[Firewire]

The previous set up on channel 4 was great (at least in the middle years).

I don't like how 5 overdo the outside set, with all its gimmicky turning eyes and crap. Less is more.

they're trying to compensate for ticket sales, if they had the full "floor" like back in C4 days, the compound would look empty. the stalls hold less people and make it look fuller.

[daniel-lewis-1985]

they're trying to compensate for ticket sales, if they had the full "floor" like back in C4 days, the compound would look empty. the stalls hold less people and make it look fuller.

The tickets are free.

Theres never a shortage of people wanting to be in the crowd either almost half the queue are allways turned away.

[Brekkie]

Regardless of popularity I do think they should remember with the crowd that actually 100-250 people can be as effective as 1000, especially for regular evictions. I'd be tempted actually to reduce the size for evictions and then keep it at full size for the finale - that makes it feel a bigger event then.

[ruiphillips]

The history that was made on that site is to iconic to let go. Pull out ya checkbook Ch5.

[Brekkie]

It's a set - that is it, and far more important pieces of entertainment have been filmed on that very site long before Big Brother - The Shining and the Dambusters had key scenes filmed on the very spot.

In reality Big Brother outgrew it's Elstree base many years ago and should probably moved on around BB7. They managed to make changes to the house in BB9 to give them more internal room but it means ever since the gardens have been on the small side and they still haven't much space to play with in terms of secret rooms, secret houses or going up and adding a second floor.

[Brekkie]

And just to confirm the area known as the Mound is at the top left of this aerial shot - it's the land opposite the BB house:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y163/brekkieboy2001/elstree20film20googlemaps20450p20with20red20line.j pg

This isn't a new plan either - it's been knocking about since 2006 to clean out that land and build new studios on it, with plans back then specific in stating the BB house would be retained. There is no reason it won't be now - but if Elstree decided it was in their way you couldn't blame them as they need to plan for future decades while BB's future is probably only a matter of years.