Plaque

BBC Television Centre - Thora Hird

Inscription

Dame Thora Hird DBE, 1911 - 2003.
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 - Thora Hird

Subjects commemorated i

Dame Thora Hird DBE

Character actor.  Born Lancashire.  Played many comic roles.  Late in her lif...

Read More

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

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 - Thora Hird

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

John Lennon - Baker Street

John Lennon - Baker Street

W1, Baker Street, 94

This plaque was replaced in 2013 but we are keeping it here for the record.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Maggie's Corner

Maggie's Corner

NW3, Hampstead High Street

This is an excellent example of how even modern plaques can be very pretty. The flower seller on our visit very kindly adjusted the awnin...

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
RAF thanks from Denmark at St Clement Danes

RAF thanks from Denmark at St Clement Danes

WC2, Strand, St Clement Danes

These stones are laid in the ground to the right of the wreath that can be seen in our photograph. Left to right they are: Suez, Gang Sho...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Market Gardens

Market Gardens

SE5, Burgess Park, Chumleigh Gardens

Chumleigh Gardens is a delightful, hidden away, gem. In our photo, the Hinds and Chumleigh plaques are either side of the white door, le...

1 subject commemorated
Joan Littlewood - Stratford plaque

Joan Littlewood - Stratford plaque

E15, Theatre Square, Theatre Royal Stratford East

Littlewood set up the Theatre Royal Stratford East and ran it with her partner Gerry Raffles until 1974.

3 subjects commemorated, 1 creator

Previously viewed

Walworth Boy Scouts Tragedy

Walworth Boy Scouts Tragedy

On Saturday the 3rd August 1912, the 2nd Walworth Troop of five adults and twenty-four young scouts sailed from Waterloo Bridge for Leysdown on the Isle of Sheppey. They moored at Erith for the nig...

Event, Children, Tragedy

6 memorials
Austrian Centre

Austrian Centre

W2, Westbourne Tarrace, 124

The plaque was unveiled by the Austrian Ambassador, Dr. Martin Eichtinger.

2 subjects commemorated, 2 creators
E. Onslow Ford

E. Onslow Ford

Born Islington as Edward Onslow Ford, but he dropped the Edward. Studied Antwerp and Munich.  A successful and well-liked sculptor.  Died at home, 62 Acacia Road.  The picture here is a portrait by...

Person, Sculpture

12 memorials
Dame Marie Rambert

Dame Marie Rambert

W8, Campden Hill Gardens, 19

Rambert lived here from 1920.

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Leon-Joseph Chavalliaud / Chavaillaud

Leon-Joseph Chavalliaud / Chavaillaud

Sculptor.  Born Reims France.  Came to Britain in 1890s and stayed for fifteen years living in Brixton.  Died France.

Person, Sculpture, France

2 memorials