Press Releases New tour for BBC Manchester

Category: North West TV; Radio Manchester
Date: 10.12.2008
Printable version

BBC Manchester is throwing open its doors in the New Year and offering people the chance to take a tour and have a peek behind the scenes of programmes such as BBC North West Tonight.

From 28 January, BBC Tours will offer visitors the chance to gain access to the rarely seen world behind the famous TV and radio programmes broadcast and produced from BBC Manchester.

BBC Tour guides will give an insight into the many programmes originating from BBC Manchester and the level of work it takes to get them from script to screen. They are also on hand to answer any burning questions relating to technical wizardry and the famous faces who have visited the building.

Visitors will have the chance to see the studio where Gordon Burns and Ranvir Singh present BBC North West Tonight, pop into BBC Radio Manchester studios and visit Studio 7 the home of the world famous BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.

They will also be able to have a go at presenting the weather or even take part in a special recording of a radio drama complete with sound effects.

There will also be an opportunity to hear more about the BBC's move to the MediaCityUK development at Salford Quays in 2011.

BBC Tours, which will run regularly on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays last for approximately 90-minutes and ticket prices range from £4.50 to £5.50 per person.

Anne Rabbitt from Manchester's BBC Tour says: "Visitors will have the opportunity to sit in Gordon Burns' chair! Most people are used to seeing the BBC North West Tonight studio on their TV screens, it's a very familiar sight, so it's exciting to see the real studio. This is going to be a first class visitor experience and one people will be talking about for years to come!"

Bookings for a tour of BBC Manchester can be made by calling: 0370 901 1227* or callers from outside the UK should call: +44 28 9053 5904. Textphone number for hearing-impaired callers is: 0370 903 0304*.

Notes to Editors

*UK wide rate charged at no more than 01/02 geographic numbers. Calls may be recorded for training. The booking line is open every Monday to Saturday, 9.00am to 5.00pm.

Five BBC London-based departments, including two TV channels and two radio stations, will move to MediaCityUK. They are:

• BBC Children's (including CBBC and CBeebies);
• BBC Formal Learning;
• BBC Future Media & Technology (including Research & Development);
• BBC Radio 5 Live (including 5 Live Sports Extra);
• BBC Sport.

HH