Twickenham Studios Opens New TV Facility with COVID Safety Measures

Twickenham Studios (TW1) is opening its new TV studio facility in conjunction with increased safety measures that it says will “pave the way for film and TV production’s new normal” and set “the industry standard” in a post-COVID-19 world.

TW1 has outlined a Studio Safe program, that goes above government regulations and guidelines. This includes undertaking social distancing measures, with remote COVID training available so that incoming productions understand the measure and can frame risk assessments around the protocols. A TW1 COVID app will feature self-certification from all staff, crew and suppliers arriving on site.

There is new COVID-aware signage and complex-wide swipe doors to safely limit human movement into certain areas. TW1 staff will wear certified masks and gloves and are being issued with thermometers to conduct a routine daily temperature check. This is in addition to the self-declaration to confirm people have not been exposed to the virus. TW1 staff will follow on-set and in-theater protocols established by the industry task force and government guidelines.

Additional cleaning staff will be hired and on constant vigil with sanitization procedures. TW1 also has a bio-fogging specialist on standby to treat each space being hired by productions. All studios and equipment have localized sanitation stations at each entrance with identifying signage. TW1 is deploying new cleaning standards and includes hand sanitizers fitted next to each door in the whole studio complex. Each space will be cleaned at the start and end of each day. In alignment with green initiatives, Safe Set products will be eco-friendly.

Piers Read, managing partner of Twickenham Studios, said: “We are thrilled to announce the opening of a brand-new TV studio facility at Twickenham that is designed to cater to broadcasters who are in urgent need of studio space in London to produce new shiny-floor entertainment shows like ITV’s Tipping Point that we previously hosted. The TV studio is an exciting addition that will complement our rich heritage of seeing some of the finest independent feature films and television dramas that have been produced here.”

Jeremy Rainbird, partner of Twickenham Studios, said: “Twickenham’s world-class facilities are set in a secluded location in the leafy suburb of Richmond which offers several obvious advantages in these COVID times, in contrast to more urban locations. With the measures we have introduced we think it is a perfect place for people to reboot various production workflows by accessing the site safely and securely. We have done everything we possibly can in order to ensure the space is as safe as can be for everyone entering the site by maintaining clear protocols needed to work on set or in theaters.”

Sunny Vohra, chairman of Twickenham Studios, said: “The film and TV industry provides thousands of jobs to individuals across the U.K., many of whom are freelance and have fallen through the gaps in the government’s economic plans. With the demand for content and the need to entertain people through these turbulent times, we want to enable creativity and ideas to come to life safely.”