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Ever fancied being the actual landlord of The Queen Vic? Well, your dreams may be about to become true because the entire ‘EastEnders’ set is up for sale. For a very reasonable £70 million, you can purchase the Elstree Centre, the studio complex where the BBC shoots the soap.
According to a spokesperson from the Beeb, the sale of the studio is part of its mission to cut costs off the back of its diminishing licence-fee income. To paraphrase Ian Beale: they’ve got nothing left.
Although this might sound like it’s the end of the road for Mick Carter and co after 37 years on the air, the sale would actually allow the BBC to continue to film the beloved show by injecting a considerable amount of cash back into its budget. The show will still shoot at Albert Square as the BBC essentially wants to sell off Elstree and then rent a bit of it to continue production.
A BBC statement said: ‘As part of our ongoing review of the BBC’s property portfolio we are exploring the sale of Elstree and leasing back part for the continued production of “EastEnders”. There are long-term commitments for the continued use of Elstree, for the parts which support “EastEnders”.’
The advert for the sale – which is being carried out by commercial estate agents Lambert Smith Hampton – describes it as ‘a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire an iconic piece of production history and write the next chapter’.
Taking over the proud area of Walford, E20 sounds like quite an enticing opportunity to us. Sure, there will be the occasional murder and random local catastrophe. But you will get the right to shout ‘Get out my pub!’ and actually be able to enforce it. All together now, ‘You’re not my mum!’
More free water fountains are being installed across London.