Following the launch of television, the fledgling service quickly grew in scope as experiments lead to new forms of programming. The BBC studios at Alexandra Palace created television formats still around today, such as: the first TV gardening programme, cookery shows, and the revolutionary election-night broadcast created by Grace Wyndham Goldie.

The first dedicated children’s programme was launched in 1946 with its star Muffin the Mule, moreover the BBC brought major moments of history, such as the Queen’s Coronation and news of the Kennedy assassination, into British homes. As well as studios, the BBC had to create offices, make-up and rehearsal rooms, install transmitters, generators and control rooms. Our East Court was used to park early outside broadcast trucks, and the Theatre became a carpentry workshop where sets and props for the television service were built and stored.

The News service relocated in 1969, however BBC remained at the Palace in partnership with the Open University, to realise the ‘University of the Air’ in the studios until 1981. The corporation’s presence also endures to this day. In recent times, the BBC 6 Music Festival was streamed from the Palace, including performances from Laura Marling and Michael Kiwanuka, likewise the BBC Radio 1 Big Weekender recorded performances from inside our walls and we’ve been delighted to host Later…with Jools Holland. The Top Gear team took on their Wall of Death in our Great Hall, while the inaugural Earthshot Prize, featuring former BBC director Sir David Attenborough was filmed in the Palace’s theatre.