East by North West ?

The Sunday Express says the cast of Eastenders are worried that they too might be shipped to Salford, and have asked The Management for reassurances to the contrary.  The reassurance is half-hearted: "We are committed to Elstree until 2014".  This is a BBC that once was "committed" to Television Centre, and recently decided to flog buildings at White City, three of which were only opened in 2004. A decision to either extend the Elstree lease or acquire new premises needs to be taken during 2012.

Helpfully a spokesman for the Peel Group tells the Express there are 150 acres still available at Salford Quays, awaiting instructions from clients like the BBC and ITV.   However, moving Albert Square to the Olympic site, which was at one stage under discussion, apparently fell because the outdoor stage set would have been "overlooked" - there is an irrational anxiety at Eastenders that people care about their plot-lines. There's nowhere at MediaCityUK that wouldn't have flat-dwellers with a prime view.

The real reason that Eastenders didn't move to East London was life-style protection sought by the core cast, who have established themselves in a cosy Home Counties loop from Ruislip through Rickmansworth to Radlett.

My bet ?  They'll be saved from the provinces (or, worse, Wales) by a deal to move as a lead tenant to Pinewood, now spookily controlled by Peel.



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