Plaque

BBC Television Centre - Ernie Wise

Inscription

Ernie Wise OBE, 1925 - 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.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
BBC Television Centre - Ernie Wise

Subjects commemorated i

Ernie Wise OBE

Comedian, one half of Morecambe and Wise.  Born Leeds. Died Nuffield Hospital...

Read More

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

Created by i

British Broadcasting Corporation

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

Read More

Heritage Foundation

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

Read More

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

Also at this site i

BBC Television Centre - Arthur Lowe

BBC Television Centre - Arthur Lowe

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

Read More

BBC Television Centre - Bill Owen

BBC Television Centre - Bill Owen

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

Read More

BBC Television Centre - Derek Nimmo

BBC Television Centre - Derek Nimmo

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

Read More

BBC Television Centre - Dick Emery

BBC Television Centre - Dick Emery

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

Read More

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

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Charles Cruft

Charles Cruft

N5, Highbury Grove, Ashurst Lodge

Ashurst Lodge (number 12) was demolished in 1965 to make way for Highbury Grove School.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Jimi Hendrix Experience

Jimi Hendrix Experience

W1, Kingly Street, 9

July 2023: Priscila Caroline do Nascimento reported that both these plaques have gone, so we've marked them as 'lost'. We first spotted t...

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Watney Market sewer deaths

Watney Market sewer deaths

E1, Commercial Road, Watney Market clock tower

The plaque refers to the men being overcome by fumes while "working in this building" but the tragedy took place in a sewer.  Seems the p...

5 subjects commemorated
Northern Line (part) centenary - Tufnell Park

Northern Line (part) centenary - Tufnell Park

NW5, Brecknock Road, Tufnell Park tube station

Diamond Geezer has made a useful Brief history of the Northern Line.

1 subject commemorated
Lewisham Clock Tower

Lewisham Clock Tower

SE13, Lewisham High Street

In 1995 the tower was moved slightly from its original location to accommodate road layout changes. A drawing of 1900 shows it in its ori...

1 subject commemorated, 7 creators

Previously viewed

J. J. Cunningham

J. J. Cunningham

Member of Housing Committee, Diss Street 1922.

Person, Politics & Administration

2 memorials
Guildhall School of Music - Purcell

Guildhall School of Music - Purcell

EC4, John Carpenter Street

This complex of buildings was created to house the Guildhall School of Music, who had outgrown their premises at Aldermanbury. Designed b...

1 subject commemorated
Ewan Christian

Ewan Christian

Architect.  Born Marylebone.  Designed the National Portrait Gallery.  Primarily worked on churches though he found time to design about 120 houses.  Died at the home he had designed for himself, '...

Person, Architecture

2 memorials
Sir Francis Bacon

Sir Francis Bacon

Born York House near Strand. Died in Highgate at Arundel House, the home of his friend, Thomas Howard, Lord Arundel. The site is now occupied by St. Michael's Church, South Grove. Travelling toward...

Person, Philosophy

12 memorials
E. Coutanche

E. Coutanche

Either lost his life, or gave distinguished service to the London Fire Brigade, and was buried in the Highgate Cemetery plot between 1884 and 1955.

Person, Emergency Services

1 memorial