Vernon Kay has announced that BBC Radio 2 is to part ways with a slice of British cultural history, saying the corporation was "closing the doors" on a studio that survived the Blitz and hosted generations of music royalty.
Speaking on his mid-morning radio show on August 13, Vernon reassured listeners that Radio 2's Piano Room, recorded at the site, "isn't disappearing", but will move to a new home.
End of an era for Maida Vale Studios
He said on the show: "Tracks of My Years today is taking a break, but it's still available on BBC Sounds and, of course, on the iPlayer with the mighty Alex Jones, celebrating 20 years of The One Show with The One Show special tomorrow night, Friday, an hour-long show. And the reason why is because 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."
Since opening in 1934, Maida Vale Studios in north-west London has welcomed a remarkable list of legendary artists, including The Beatles, Nirvana, Beyoncé, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie and Bing Crosby. It also became the home of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the legendary John Peel Sessions. Built in 1909 as the Maida Vale Roller Skating Palace and Club, it was later taken over by the corporation.
New home and refurbishment
In recent years, the BBC concluded that the studio was "wholly unsuitable for the 21st century", pointing to problems such as asbestos, and said it would be replaced by new premises at London's Olympic Park. The legendary studios are not being demolished; instead, a team including Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer has bought it and is refurbishing it.
BBC Radio 2's Piano Room signed off with a final performance from Gwen Dickey of Rose Royce fame. She recorded three tracks with the BBC Concert Orchestra, with Jess Cox conducting and arranging.
Final performance and farewell
After the performance, Vernon said: "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. Remember, it began way back on the 31st of January 2022 with David Gray; 134 guests appeared on the parquet floor in Maida Vale with Ken and myself at the helm. And it's been pretty epic. Many, many Maida Vale studio memories."
He said they would "move on" and find a new home, before joking that if any listeners had a garage or shed "available in the back yard" — and could "squeeze" in the orchestra and guest — they should "get in touch".
