BBC

We booked a tour of the BBC at Media City UK a few weeks ago, make sure you book well in advance as these tours sell out very quickly!
Media City UK is the newest part of the BBC in the UK and its huge, and its expanding even more.
We was on the 10:45am tour which starts in the main foyer of the BBC studios right in the heart of Media City UK, you have to check in at the lobby where a lovely receptionist asks for youre confirmation and then they give you a lanyard each. Two girls introduced themselves to everyone in the party who worked for the BBC and told us a little bit about themselves and what we was about to see.
There was about 10 other people in the tour group including ourselves which i thought was great as i like the intimacy and wouldn’t want to be in a huge group.
We was firstly taken to where they film BBC Sports in one of the huge buildings, where we could see where they filmed and where people work in the BBC sports section, unfortunately we wasn’t shown it right up front though but through huge glass windows but you could get to see where its all done.
After this you are taken to a mock up of the BBC breakfast studio where they ask you to volunteer to take part in a mock up of the BBC breakfast news and weather, i was taken up to take part which was fun where you get to read the news and see what its like for the presenters. you can take as many pictures as you like in this area, unfortunately though you are not shown the real BBC Breakfast studio though.
After this we are taken to another huge building where BBC radio 6 is and you get to see a real DJ box and all the equipment which i thought was the best bit of the tour, as i love music. so i got to sit in the Dj seat where some famous DJS have sat before. the tour guides are really good at telling everything about how the DJS work and what they have to do.
After this we are then taken to the Studios where they have filmed The Voice, Match of the Day amongst many others, we didn’t get to see the studio where they filmed the Voice which was a little disappointing but we did get to see the Studio where they filmed Match of the Day, unfortunately it wasn’t football season so it was all getting packed away though the tour guides was really good in telling us everything about the studios.
After this we are then taken to a sound studio where they perform Radio shows, such as the Arches, a bit boring for me but still very interesting.
At all times the tour guides were excellent and told us and the rest of the party absolutely everything we needed to know and if we had any questions to ask them.
The tour lasts for a good 1 Hour and 30 Minutes and for £10 each it a fantastic price for everything you get to see but wish they would have shown us a bit more, like the real BBC breakfast set and more of the studios. But we had a great time and would recommend to anyone.

Quite shocked that no one has reviewed the new home of the BBC on Unilocal,but it is really new.
MediaCityUK is the new home of the BBC, in fact it’s an entire town developed for the BBC which is called MediaCityUk, in Salford.
When asking an employee of Salford University she told me that their media related division has moved to MediaCityUK. Here you will in fact find the TARDIS and a Gold Dalek.
Many BBC employees from London and Cardiff have moved (reports of 1800 jobs) Modern contemporary architecture, and they offered a studio tour, yet unfortunately did not have time on this visit. Will do that for sure. Asked the lady at the main desk if there was a Doctor Who display or tour other the original TARDIS and Gold Dalek and she said «It has not arrived yet».
England’s independant TV station ITV has also moved to MediaCenterUK this year. Manchester seems to be very proud of ITV as it has yet to be dominated by the BBC.
There’s a very large courtyard with a giant TV with audio that looks to be a perfect meeting place for large media live coverage of events. I was the only person standing out there in the cold to see that Silvio Berlusconi was sentenced.

A brief but exploratory visit on Saturday — I even found the TARDIS from the photo!
My brother’s friend was hosting a première of his short film Assassin. I’d never been invited to a première before so I was super excited to go.
We were to go to Dock 10 to be met by our hosts and taken to The Landing.
Up 7 floors we went and we arrived at «The Landing». We were taken through some swish fancy doors in to a tiny, plush, private cinema screen — with sofa’s for chairs!
Well… almost! The chairs were chairs, but they were HUGE. And some at the front even had leg raisers! I regretted instantly not going for the front row… Everything was so comfy and well looked after.
Through the 15 minute screening, it felt like an actual cinema and the sound was so much better in the smaller space. I didn’t want to leave and glad that they played the short film twice!
I made sure to visit the toilets before I left — bright, immaculate toilets that smelt ‘nice’.
On our way in and out the security were firm but very nice. The BBC should be proud of their security. They question everything but they help you along your way. No one would be able to get past them without an answer!
I’m hoping I can go again to explore more!