Pinewood Studios, which has been the production location for famous TV shows like Would I Lie to You, Taskmaster, and RuPaul’s Drag Race, will close its television production division next year, following an internal review. Despite being renowned for hosting James Bond, Marvel and Sonic the Hedgehog franchises, the site’s department which specializes in light entertainment and comedy is no longer sustainable. The studios had three fully-equipped TV studios and was widely popular in the industry of sitcoms, panels shows and live broadcasts.
The owners of the studio released a statement saying, “We are very proud of the work the TV team has delivered over the years, having hosted many major titles for the UK’s broadcasters.” However, Pinewood’s cinemas, workshops, and shooting stages like the 007 sound stage will not be affected. The productions that are already booked for 2024 and 2025 will continue, including TV productions taking place at other Pinewood sites.
Pinewood Studios has been used to lodge movie sets productions for several years now. Following a similar deal with Netflix Pinewood’s Shepperton Studios, Disney signed a deal to lease 20 of its stages in 2019. Red Dwarf, Gordon Ramsey’s Future Food Stars and Would I Lie to You have also been filmed in this grand studio. Pinewood is currently providing consultation services to its affected staff after the announcement of the closure of its TV production division.
This is a significant blow for the British television industry since the closure of Pinewood will leave a gaping hole in the British TV industry as well as in the wider community of workers whose livelihoods depend on it, as it is not just a place for filming and production, but also a provider of studio and storage services and imaginative minds for various scenery
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