EastEnders' studios to be put up for sale by the BBC

The BBC is planning to sell the studio behind EastEnders, the Elstree Centre, as a way of counteracting diminishing license fee income.

According to The Telegraph, it's reported that the corporation wants to offload the location and lease back the space from a new owner, which would allow the likes of Danny Dyer's Mick Carter and Letitia Wright's Sharon Watts to go about their day-to-days.

Elstree's worth is reportedly priced around £70m, and now commercial property agency Lambert Smith Hampton has been called in to find possible suitors.

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An advert describes this as a "unique opportunity to acquire an iconic piece of production history and write the next chapter", while the Beeb is open to exploring "a number of potential disposal structures".

Execs are apparently viewing Elstree's sale as an opportune excuse to cut its operating costs and carbon footprint too.

A BBC spokesperson shared in a statement: "As part of our ongoing review of the BBC's property portfolio we are exploring the sale of Elstree and leasing back part for the continued production of EastEnders. There are long-term commitments for the continued use of Elstree, for the parts which support EastEnders."

In addition to dramatic Walford shenanigans, the lot has been used for major BBC events over the years, including Children in Need and UK election coverage.

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In other news, former Kelly Taylor actress Brooke Kinsella welcomed a "miracle" baby boy in June, named Ben Ross Boardley.

EastEnders airs on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One, with some episodes airing on BBC Two during summer sporting events. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer.

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