Jeremy Paxman criticises BBC over sale of Television Centre

Presenter Jeremy Paxman has criticised the BBC for planning to sell Television Centre and relocate to Central London in a bid to cut costs.

The BBC plans to sell the iconic Television Centre – where some of the country’s most popular programmes were once produced – by 2015 and relocate its staff to Central London. The proposals are not without their critics and Jeremy Paxman, presenter of University Challenge and Newsnight, has joined those opposing the plans.

“They always said that the way you know if the British are going to decolonise is when they start building massive government buildings – that was certainly the case in India. And the BBC’s much the same. What organisation – at a time when it has no money, allegedly – would move from cheap square footage in west London to Oxford Circus?” – Jeremy Paxman in the Radio Times

It was in 2007 that the corporation first announced plans to sell Television Centre in Shepherd’s Bush prompting much criticism. The building first opened in 1960 and, as stated above, has produced some of the country’s most iconic programmes. Although only a few programmes – such as Strictly Come Dancing – are now produced there at one time shows such as Doctor Who, Blakes 7, Blue Peter, Absolutely Fabulous and The House of Eliott were filmed there.