Inside the derelict rooms where British TV was born

Alexandra Palace, in north London, is known to many as a venue for sports, live concerts and ice skating, but there are hidden rooms nestled inside the building’s East Wing that are rarely seen by the public.

In 1936, the BBC moved into the palace to open its television service, creating two TV studios as well as a 200ft (60m) transmitter mast which has now become one of the building's defining features.

Two pioneering camera companies were housed in the studios in 1936 and on the first night of programming they battled it out behind the scenes to be judged on who got to make live programmes in the future.

Following that evening in 1936, the studios were used for many TV firsts until they closed in the 1980s.

The spaces have recently been showcased on tours as a part of the London Festival of Architecture, where the public were asked what they think should be done to preserve the historic spaces for years to come.

Video by Eric Anderson

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