Plaque

BBC Television Centre - Bill Owen

Inscription

Bill Owen MBE, 1914 - 1999.
BBC and the Heritage Foundation

Site: 24 plaques at BBC Television Centre (24 memorials)

W12, Wood Lane, BBC Television Centre - Star Terrace

The plaque on the brick wall in the picture reads: The BBC Star Terrace, "Bring me fun, bring me sunshine, bring me love" Sylvie Dee.

Dee wrote the words to the Morecambe and Wise theme song. Eric and Ernie are two of the 24 names commemorated here on plaques installed by the Heritage Foundation in cooperation with the BBC. The plaques, distributed randomly across this terrace, form part of the audience engagement while waiting to enter TV studios. Originally a history trail was planned at BBC TV Centre featuring major talent both in front of and behind camera but this was not pursued once it was clear that TVC would close. Each plaque carries an image of clapping hands - a celebration of the links between audience and BBC talent. As of 2012 the building is up for sale.

We are grateful to Alison Kelly at the BBC who give us access to photograph the plaques and provided the information above.

The BBC announced that they were selling the building and in 2012 we learnt the plans for the memorials from the Blue Peter Garden - a move to Salford. 2013 the BBC moved out of the building; it was redeveloped and the BBC partially moved back c.2017. We had feared that these plaques would be lost but, 2019, Paul Burton reported that he's heard they are still there.

2024: Here's what happened to one of them, in the St Albans Times. "An iconic Blue Plaque which once held pride of place at BBC TV Centre has been unveiled at Harpenden’s Eric Morecambe Centre by the eponymous funnyman’s daughter. The plaque was one of a limited collection of 24 which could be seen at the Wood Lane building before it closed in 2012. ... This particular plaque was donated to the Eric Morecambe Centre by Harpenden resident Carol Berks and is in pride of place in the theatre foyer alongside portraits of Eric and his wife Joan, who made the town their home after moving there in 1967." And indeed, the photos show that the plaque has been made blue, which it certainly wasn't when we photographed it.

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This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
BBC Television Centre - Bill Owen

Subjects commemorated i

Bill Owen, MBE

Actor, songwriter. Born London.  Wrote that Cliff Richard hit 'Marianne'. Pla...

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This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
BBC Television Centre - Bill Owen

Created by i

British Broadcasting Corporation

Also known as the BBC or more affectionately, the Beeb.  Founded as the Briti...

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Heritage Foundation

We believe this group now encompasses Comic Heritage, Musical Heritage, Sport...

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This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
BBC Television Centre - Bill Owen

Also at this site i

BBC Television Centre - Arthur Lowe

BBC Television Centre - Arthur Lowe

Arthur Lowe, 1915 - 1982. BBC and the Heritage Foundation

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BBC Television Centre - Derek Nimmo

BBC Television Centre - Derek Nimmo

Derek Nimmo, 1930 - 1999. BBC and the Heritage Foundation

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BBC Television Centre - Dick Emery

BBC Television Centre - Dick Emery

Dick Emery, 1917 - 1983. BBC and the Heritage Foundation

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BBC Television Centre - Doctor Who - Jon Pertwee

BBC Television Centre - Doctor Who - Jon Pertwee

Doctor Who - Jon Pertwee, 1919 - 1996. BBC and the Heritage Foundation

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BBC Television Centre - Doctor Who - Patrick Troughton

BBC Television Centre - Doctor Who - Patrick Troughton

Doctor Who - Patrick Troughton, 1920 - 1987. BBC and the Heritage Foundation

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