View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. News
October 10, 2018updated 30 Sep 2022 6:55am

Police rush Fiona Bruce to BBC’s Millbank studio for 6pm news bulletin after ‘technical issue’ with live broadcasts at HQ

By Freddy Mayhew

News anchor Fiona Bruce was rushed to the BBC’s Millbank studios in a police car to present the 6pm bulletin after a technical issue downed live broadcasts at the BBC’s main studios in central London.

The BBC’s home editor, Mark Easton, tweeted a picture of him with Bruce in a taxi at 5.20pm this afternoon on their way to the Westminster studios, but warned the traffic was “dreadful”.

In a second tweet 14 minutes later, a picture on Easton’s account showed Bruce sat in the front of a police car being “escorted through” a demo taking place on the streets of London.

Millbank studios, home to Politics Live, is the disaster recovery set for the news bulletins if the main studio at Broadcasting House in Marylebone (three miles from Millbank) is out of action, Press Gazette understands.

Earlier today the BBC News Channel was forced to broadcast pre-recorded news content from 3pm to 4pm after a problem with the Open Media production system, which replaced the ENPS system last year.

Open Media is used by a number of other European broadcasters, according to Radio Today.

The BBC said in a statement: “We’ve had technical problems at our HQ this afternoon and will be broadcasting the BBC News at Six from our Millbank studio. Engineers are working hard to resolve the issue fully.”

It’s not clear if the News At Ten will also broadcast from Millbank. The BBC News website is not affected.

Picture: BBC

Topics in this article :

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly dose of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how Progressive Media Investments may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network