BBC Wales will today move out of its historic headquarters of 50 years in Llandaff this week, and move to their new facility in Central Square, Cardiff.
Home to BBC Wales since 1966, the iconic building has seen the stars of stage and screen tread its famous corridors; including Sir Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta Jones, Sian Phillips, Ryan and Ronnie, Joan Collins and even Dirk Bogarde.
It was opened by HRH Princess Margaret on 1 March 1967 and has been home to BBC Wales’s radio stations – BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Radio Cymru 2 and BBC Radio Wales – as well as the broadcaster’s news programmes, BBC Wales Today and Newyddion.
The last programme to broadcast from the centre was be BBC Wales Today on Monday morning.
As Broadcasting House closes its doors for the last time, a selection of heritage items have been donated to the National Museum of Wales. The artefacts include television and radio studio equipment, sets, furniture and the opening ceremony commemorative plaque.
Rhodri Talfan Davies, Director of BBC Cymru Wales says: “Llandaff has been at the heart of national life for more than half a century – a crucible for writers, performers, journalists and some of the most gifted programme-makers this nation has produced. But, as they say, to everything there is a time. And the time is right to open an exciting new chapter at our new home in Central Square – a centre that will bring us closer to audiences and provide an extraordinary stage for Welsh broadcasting for decades to come.”
The first live news broadcast from BBC Wales’s new home in Cardiff city centre will be on the afternoon of Monday 28th September. The BBC’s most open building, it will be open to the public once the current restrictions are lifted. But audiences will get their first look at the new studio during the lunchtime Newyddion bulletin.
Newyddion presenter, Bethan Rhys Roberts says: “The team is so excited about going on-air in our new home. With innovative technology, we will bring stories and voices from all parts of Wales and beyond – the local, the political, the harrowing and the amusing from time to time. At such a crucial time, we will be using the latest resources to present and analyse facts and its impact on our day-to-day lives. As well as sport, we will also welcome the S4C weather team to the studio – I can’t wait and cross fingers everything will be working on Monday night!”
Nick Servini, the first Wales Today presenter live from Central Square, says: “It’s an incredibly exciting time to be part of the move to our new studios. Obviously it’s all happening at an unprecedented time for news but we believe we will be able to keep people better informed about all the latest developments on the biggest stories with the new technology available to us in Central Square.”
BBC Wales’s news teams will begin presenting programmes such as BBC Wales Today and Newyddion from its new broadcast centre in the heart of the capital.
Image of Llandaff courtesy, BBC Wales.