CityLife

Your chance to go behind the scenes at Beeb

ON THE MOVE?: BBC Manchester

ONE of Manchester’s most-missed tourist attractions is Granada Studios Tours.

In its heyday, the purpose-built multi-media complex at the back of the Quay Street studios attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the country. 

Highlights included the Sherlock Holmes set and the chance to have a pint in a replica of Corrie’s Rovers Return and walk the cobbles of Coronation Street.

Well, GST is sadly no more and tours of the Coronation Street set are only available in very special circumstances.

However, broadcasting rival the BBC still organises regular trips around its HQ in Manchester.

Broadcasting House, in Manchester, which replaced former premises on Piccadilly, will also shortly be history as the Beeb is on the move to a stunning new site at MediaCity in Salford.

So, if you want to get a glimpse of the Oxford Road location, where many news and drama TV and radio programmes are made, then time is fast running out.

The Guided tours of BBC Manchester are all carried out by special guides and they last about 90 minutes.

No one tour is the same but they all aim to give visitors the opportunity to learn a fair bit about the art of making TV and radio programmes.

They include (schedules permitting) tours of the studios and sets – so don’t forget and take your autograph book as there is always the possibility of glimpsing some of your favourite stars TV and radio personalities in action.

Special interactive studio

A highlight of the tour is the chance to visit an special interactive studio, where you can have a go at everything from presenting the weather to starring in your very own radio drama.

BBC Manchester is a bit of a labryinth labyrinth and without a guide it’s easy to get lost.

Each tour also involves a reasonable amount of walking and standing but the building is fully wheelchair accessible.

All the tours must be pre-booked in advance and they are available each Wednesday at 10.00am and 12.30pm, and on Saturdays and Sundays at 10.00am, 1.00pm and 3.30pm.

It’s a family-oriented kind of event and up to 15 people can take part (so it would make an unusual and appreciated gift for TV addicts) but only children over the age of 12 accompanied by an adult are permitted.

A group tour booked for under-16s must have at least two accompanying adults.

It’s not often most people get a chance to look around places like the BBC and if you want to take a photo to mark the occasion, then Photography is permitted in the studios as advised by the tour guide.

Other areas may be restricted due to recording.

If you get the BBC bug, it’s also possible to sign up to an e-mail list, which includes the chance to join audiences on TV and radio programmes and details of find out about special events.

Those of you hankering after the chance to have a look around the Coronation Street set are currently likely to be disappointed as tours are only available in special circumstances.

But it is always worth contacting Granada TV to find out if you qualify.

There are rumours that the Coronation Street set may re-open to the general public in 2010 – when Corrie marks its 50th anniversary. But for now, according to a spokesman, the tours are reserved for the pre-requisite of charities and competition winners.

Tours of BBC Manchester, cost £5.50, concs £5, child/student £4.50, school £3.75. To book tickets ring 0370 901 1227. More information at: bbc.co.uk/tours.