Students attend recording studio in Borehamwood to witness the production process
Date: 20 January 2025
Students on London Met’s BA Film and Television courses were recently invited to visit the set of the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing at Elstree Studios at Borehamwood.
The Society of Television Lighting and Design (STLD), provided students with a fascinating talk from BAFTA award-winning Lighting Director David Bishop, who has worked on many large-scale events and television shows (Queen's Jubilee Concerts, Children In Need, the X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent).
He explained how the complex television set is lit through the different phases of the show, and students were then free to explore the Strictly set, the lighting, and the behind camera setup.
Jeremy Collins, Course Leader, BA Film and Television Production at London Met, commented: “It’s incredibly important to allow students to see the subject matter of their courses brought to life. Strictly is a cultural phenomenon, and so much work goes into creating the visual set design and programming. We are incredibly grateful to have had this opportunity to see the wheels in motion.”
Students remarked on how the set looks much bigger on screen than in real life, and how lighting is used in the show to change moods and provide changing contexts for the different elements of the programme.
It was a fascinating event, which was useful to film and television students in general, and in particular those interested in lighting design.
For more information on Film and Television courses at London Met, please visit the course pages.
Strictly Come Dancing production set