Lime Grove Studios: Difference between revisions

[[File:LimeGrove.jpg|thumb|Lime Grove in the [[1960s]], as it appeared in archive footage on [[DOC]]: ''[[Riverside Story]]'']]

'''Lime Grove Studios''' were a collection of inter-connected buildings located on Lime Grove Street in the [[Shepherd's Bush]] district of the [[London]] borough of [[Hammersmith and Fulham]]. They were the site of much of the studio recording done during the monochromatic era of the original series of ''Doctor Who''.

== Site history ==

Lime Grove dates to 1915, when it was built by Gaumont Films. It was originally constructed with glass ceilings above the sets, because the studios used no artificial lighting. This was soon seen as impracticable, however, and the site switched to internal lighting in 1917. It underwent a couple of construction projects in 1927 and 1932-33, but these were the last innovations brought to the site's physical plant.<ref>[http://www.tvstudiohistory.co.uk/old%20bbc%20studios.htm#lime Unofficial Lime Grove history site]</ref>

=== Studio D ===

Studio D is perhaps the most famous of the Lime Grove studios to ''Doctor Who'' enthusiasts. It was the original studio location for the programme and  has become famous in descriptions of the filming of the pilot, ''[[An Unearthly Child]]''. It is also the subject of many unpleasant memories on the part of the production staff. Its many inefficiencies have been touched on in the pages of ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'' and in DVD extras, for years.

==== Stories recorded at Studio D ====

===== First Doctor =====

=== Studio E ===

Studio E ''may'' have been used by ''Doctor Who''. If so, it was apparently only used for one day in the history of the program: [[13 March]] [[1972]]. It is unclear what, if any, material was shot. Two sources are in significant conflict over the use of Lime Grove for this serial. One<ref>[http://www.shannonsullivan.com/drwho/serials/nnn.html Shannon Sullivan's exploration] of ''The Mutants''</ref> suggests that [[BBC Television Centre|TC8]] was used on 13-14th March, while another<ref>[http://www.doctorwholocations.net/stories/mutants Doctor Who Location's Guide] entry for ''The Mutants''</ref> suggests that TC8 was abandoned for Lime Grove Studio E on the 13th and TC4 on the 14th.

==== Stories recorded at Studio E ====

* ''[[The Mutants (TV story)|The Mutants]]'' (disputed)

=== Studio G ===

Studio G was a long, narrow, rectangular space which Verity Lambert was offered by the BBC Planning Department. In the deal, she got Planning to agree that Studio D was unsuitable as the main recording space for the programme. She even got them to rotate ''Doctor Who'' to the top of the list of shows to be scheduled at [[BBC Television Centre|Television Centre]]. However, if TC was unavailable, she would have to use Lime Grove's Studio G. Lambert continued to argue against this "compromise" because the shape of Studio G was totally wrong for the depiction of science fictional vistas, and allowed for no sense of depth.<ref name=SSAz />. In practice Studio G was used only once by ''Doctor Who''.

==== Stories recorded at Studio G ====

* ''[[The Reign of Terror]]''

== Use of Lime Grove within ''Doctor Who'' fiction ==

Lime Grove is implied by the story ''[[The Idiot's Lantern]]'', in which the very earliest days of the BBC are featured. Particularly relevant is the clip of ''Muffin the Mule'', which would have been produced at Lime Grove.

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Studios]]