ITV leaving historic Granada studios for modern base in northern ‘hub’

ITV is moving from its historic Granada studios in Quay Street, Manchester, to set up home at MediaCityUK in Salford.

Big names involved in the move include Coronation Street, The Jeremy Kyle Show, Granada Reports, University Challenge and CITV.

The company said phase one of the move was due to be completed last night.

Adam Crozier, ITV’s chief executive, said: “Our move to a new, modern, fit for purpose base in MediaCityUK is vital in enabling us to focus on growing our national and international production and broadcasting business.

“We have been the biggest original content provider in the region for over half a century.

“Joining this creative hub outside of London ensures the region is not only an important part of ITV’s history, it’s also a hugely important part of our future”.

Granada’s Quay Street studios are currently the oldest operating TV studios in the UK – with the first live broadcast being made on May 3, 1956.

Television landmarks included the first filmed performance by the Beatles in August 1962 and the first UK Prime Ministerial debate at the last general election.

Coronation Street, the world’s longest-running continuous drama, was first broadcast live 
from Quay Street on December 9, 1960.

The cobbles are currently being laid on the new Coronation Street, which is due to move later this year to a seven-acre site next to the Imperial War Museum in Salford.

Granada Reports will broadcast from a state-of-the-art “glass box” news studio at MediaCityUK which boasts 360 degree shooting ability and a glass walled stop-motion animation studio.

MediaCityUK is also home to more than 2,000 BBC staff, working in the Sport, Children’s, and Research departments as well as Radio 5 Live.