The ITV studios where Bullseye, Blockbuster, Catchphrase and Family Fortunes were once recorded have been given a new lease of life.
The Lenton Lane television studio in Nottingham has been turned into a new production facility to support the film and TV industry across the Midlands. Called the Virtual Immersive Production (VIP) studio, it will also help businesses reach new audiences using the latest technologies.
Following its heyday as a hub for TV shows the site is now owned by the University of Nottingham and forms part of its Kings Meadow Campus, where it allows filmmakers, performing arts companies, and businesses and individuals in the creative industry to explore digital technologies in areas such as virtual reality, animation, and 360-degree immersive sound.
As well as focusing on research and experimentation, the studio will also play a part in making the screen industry more sustainable by limiting the need to film on location.
Helen Kennedy, professor of creative and cultural industries at the university and the studio’s project lead said: “There is increasing application of virtual, immersive and game-based technologies in film, television and cutting-edge theatre production.
“We are witnessing an increase in collaborations and experimentation across these sectors – and these are the innovations that we are seeking to advance in our studio.”
The studio is located in Studio 11 – the largest, original, acoustically treated sound studio in the Midlands, was once home to Carlton TV. Its creation is part of a longer-term vision to revitalise the site as an accessible hub for creative production.
