As seen on TV: Audience Systems’ latest project at the BBC

The new retractable seating units will be simply wheeled between studios, allowing studios to be quickly adapted for multiple TV shows.

Continuing our long tradition of working with the UK’s best known TV studios, Audience Systems has secured a major new order from for studio TC3 at the iconic Television Centre in London.

No longer home to only BBC shows, Television Centre is now operated by the BBC’s commercial arm, BBC Studioworks.  The three studios there (TC1 to 3) have been home to shows including The Graham Norton Show (BBC One), Loose Women (ITV) and Sunday Brunch (Channel 4).

With some high profile shows planning to rehome to TC3 next year, BBC Studioworks are investing in four flexible mobile seating units from Audience Systems. These can be used separately or in a bank, and together seat an audience of up to 400 people. When closed, the individual seating units can be wheeled between studios or sets on running strips. Not only does this help BBC Studioworks to manage their week-to-week filming schedule, it also helps to futureproof the studio for shows with different capacities.  

To add further flexibility, the seating units can also be opened fully, or opened in a “truncated” arrangement whereby the rear rows only are opened and step units are added in front (see images below).

Audience Systems first worked with the BBC back in the 1980s, creating audience seating for shows like The Generation Game and Only Fools & Horses. Back then, the retractable seating was heavy and functional, with deckboards that hinged up so that the seats could be stashed beneath. Audience Systems has also worked with TV studios including ITV Studios, Fountain TV, TV India, Mediacorp Singapore, Al Jazeera and Sky.

Some shots of Audience Systems’ seating at the BBC, some dating back to the 1980s

Television Centre photograph by  Mike Peel.