Strictly Come Dancing Returns To Elstree

BBC Studios and Post Production (BBC S&PP) is to provide full studio facilities, post-production services and technical support from Elstree Studios for the latest series of BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing.

BBC S&PP's 15,825 square foot George Lucas Stage 2 is home to the famous Strictly ballroom. With a studio space designed to support large-scale TV productions, the production will use every inch of space available.

New for 2015, is the introduction of a fourth wall element to enhance the experience of the 750-strong live audience and home viewers. With the full 360 degree set giving the feeling of shooting in the round, viewers are taken to the heart of the dancefloor action.

The technical set-up for Strictly Come Dancing follows a design BBC S&PP has perfected from supporting all past series of the show. A total of 10 cameras, including one 30' MovieBird Technocrane, four pedestal cameras, a radio Steadicam and four handheld/lightweight tripod cameras capture the action.

BBC S&PP's recent investment in a Studer Vista X large-scale mixing console for broadcast, housed in its George Lucas Galleries, is the backbone to Strictly's audio set-up. Capturing up to 50 radio microphones across each show, the desk handles everything from the live orchestra, to the audience's reaction.

Connectivity between Elstree Studios and BBC S&PP's post-production facilities at BBC Elstree is important for handling the high volume of rushes the show produces each week.

A bespoke editing complex at the Elstree facility, boasts 10 Avid Symphony suites to meet the fast turnaround post production requirements of the show – between them they handle up to 100 hours of training material each week. Material is ingested, logged and edited at BBC Elstree and reviewed and incorporated into the live shows via the HD production galleries at the George Lucas Stage. The results show is recorded on Saturday night, and edited through the night and Sunday morning for delivery on Sunday afternoon, ready for transmission at tea time.

Along with the creation of the main show's training VTs, content for It Takes Two, the nightly highlights show presented by Zoe Ball, is delivered to the show's central London studio via HD Baseband video line connectivity. When the series moves studios half way through to Blackpool for a week, the editing team will move with it to provide onsite editing.

John O'Callaghan, Head of Studios and Post Production Services at BBC S&PP, said: "It's a real privilege to have supported the nation's favourite dancing show for a monumental 11 years, and to host a third series at Elstree. As even more fun and sparkles are added, the production becomes bolder and more ambitious, and promises to be an unforgettable Strictly Season."

The 2015 series sees 15 celebrities take to the Strictly ballroom with their professional partners to impress the judges. Some of the celebrities hoping to lift the Glitter Ball Trophy include EastEnders actress Kellie Bright, Olympic champion boxer Anthony Ogogo, pop star Jamelia and TV chef Ainsley Harriott.

www.bbcstudiosandpostproduction.com

(JP)