Fascinating facts

• Broadcasting House was the first ever purpose-built broadcast centre in the UK (built 1932).



• It is now a Grade II* listed building.



• Its architect, Colonel Val Myer, called his original design The Top Hat Design, basing it on American skyscrapers.



• Two tube lines run under the site of the building: the Victoria and Bakerloo lines.



• During excavation of the new building, the basement foundations went within four metres of the current Victoria line!



• The famous sculptures of Ariel and Prospero on the front façade of the building are inspired by the characters of the same name in Shakespeare's play The Tempest (Ariel as a spirit of the air was felt to be an appropriate personification of broadcasting).



• The sculptures were hugely controversial in their day mainly because of Ariel's exposed nakedness. Rumour has it that Lord Reith ordered Eric Gill, the sculptor, to reduce the size of Ariel's penis because of the public outcry.



• Broadcasting House was bombed several times during the Second World War - the most serious attack was in October 1944 when the 5th floor was hit and seven BBC staff died.



• The original Broadcasting House cost £500,000 to build. The new Broadcasting House will cost over £400m to build. It is not paid for by the licence fee.



• 10,000 miles of cabling will run through the new building.