Vernon Kay has told BBC Radio 2 listeners that the corporation is saying goodbye to Maida Vale studios, a legendary piece of British cultural heritage, over fears about asbestos. The radio DJ explained that the studio, where Radio 2’s Piano Room is recorded, is closing down.
Historic studio closes
The studio withstood the Blitz during the Second World War and music icons like The Beatles, Nirvana, Beyonce, and David Bowie have recorded there over the decades. Speaking on his mid-morning radio show, Kay told listeners the Piano Room “is not disappearing” and is simply being relocated to London’s Olympic Park.
“We're diving into the Maida Vale studios for the very last time. Piano Room isn't disappearing, but it's gonna be in a different piano room. We're closing the doors on Maida Vale,” he explained.
Final performance
Gwen Dickey marked the studio closure with a performance for The Piano Room. She played three tracks with the BBC Concert Orchestra, with Jess Cox conducting and arranging. Kay said after the performances: "And that's the end of a chapter for the Piano Room. We're gonna close the door on the Maida Vale Studios. It's having a revamp. It's being refurbished. And that's gonna be our last performance from there."
The studio was on sale for £10.5 million and has been bought by a team including Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer and is being refurbished. It was constructed in 1909 as the Maida Vale Roller Skating Palace and Club and later acquired by the BBC. It was the home of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the iconic John Peel Sessions. The BBC previously determined that the studio was "wholly unsuitable for the 21st century", raising issues such as asbestos.
Kay's connection to new PM
Kay became the Radio 2 mid-morning show host in 2023, taking over the slot from Ken Bruce. He raised eyebrows recently after revealing his secret “nights out” with Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Burnham officially entered 10 Downing Street last month, succeeding Sir Keir Starmer.
In light of the former Greater Manchester mayor’s new role, his co-star Jeremy Vine cautioned Bolton-born Kay to stop talking about his “nights out” with Burnham. "You're going to have to stop saying you've met [Burnham] once, because he's going to be Prime Minister," he told Kay. "It'll sound like name-dropping."
Kay had previously revealed he had spent “Saturday nights” out drinking “pints” with the new PM in Manchester. "I've got lots of mutual friends with Andy Burnham. I know him quite well," the presenter has said in the past. When asked if he had ever been to Chequers - the Prime Minister's country retreat - Kay responded: "I've been there before. Maybe go again."
Kay - who is currently navigating a divorce with Tess Daly - added of Burnham: "Nice bloke, that's all I can say. You've never been around Leigh on a Friday night or a Saturday night with him. That's my reference." Vine replied "nice doesn't always cut it", to which Kay quipped: "It does on a night out though Jeremy, with your mates."
