BBC Children In Need Returns To Elstree

BBC Studios and Post Production (BBC S&PP) is to provide studio facilities and full post-production services from Elstree for this year's BBC Children In Need show. It is the third consecutive year the fundraising event has returned to the studio.

The star-studded night will be broadcast live from Elstree Studio D on Friday 13 November, in front of a 500-strong audience, as well as segments being broadcast from the set of EastEnders' pub, The Queen Vic.

In order to support and manage the volume of content – which is almost 75 hours – BBC S&PP will deploy its fast-turnaround content management workflow.

A total of 10 cameras will capture the action from the 11,800 sq ft Studio D, and from The Queen Vic on the EastEnders site. The equipment includes Sony 1500 and 300 cameras, a Technocrane, a jib and hand-held cameras, while a Riedel intercoms systems has also been installed to ensure clear communications between production staff, studio areas, outside broadcast and post production operations.

BBC Nations and Regions will play a large part in the show once again, using 12 OB trucks across the country. Feeds from the live performance of Children's Choir, which sees more than 1,500 children across 10 different UK locations coming together to sing, will be managed in the studio multiplex and intercut with the performance. Further content comes from the fundraising and regional stories coming into the multiplex throughout the day. EVS XT3 and Avid Airspeed video servers will record content onto an ISIS 5000, and highlights montages will be cut for inclusion into the live programme.

In the run-up to the live show, Avid Symphony edit suites will cut material during the week of transmission, with Avid Pro Tools used for dubbing and voiceovers. This includes Strictly Come Dancing for Children in Need. For one night only, Sir Bruce Forsyth will return to the ballroom alongside Tess Daly, for a special edition of the show which will also be filmed at Elstree. BBC One Show Call the Midwife will receive a glittering makeover as four of its stars – Jenny Agutter, Laura Main, Stephen McGann and Jack Ashton – will take to the dancefloor and go head-to-head in a bid to win the Pudsey Glitter Ball trophy.

BBC S&PP's work also continues into the night after the cameras stop rolling, with the turnaround of an hour-long highlights programme for delivery and broadcast on BBC One the next evening.

John O'Callaghan, Head of Studios and Post Production Services at BBC S&PP, said: "Following the success of last year's record breaking appeal, we're delighted to welcome back BBC Children in Need to Elstree. Our talented studios and post production teams will be pulling out all the stops to ensure another spectacular fundraising event."

Children in Need will be hosted by Sir Terry Wogan. He will be joined by Tess Daly, Fearne Cotton, Nick Grimshaw and Rochelle Humes, while performances on the night will include Ellie Goudling, Rod Stewart, Years & Years, as well as musical performances from the West End cast of Beautiful, Kinky Boots and Bend It Like Beckham.

BBC Children in Need airs on BBC One on Friday 13 November from 7pm.

www.bbcstudiosandpostproduction.com

(JP)