BBC builds £1m rooftop studio
BBC is understood to have spent up to 1 million pounds on the temporary 'flat pack' studio, which is being assembled on the roof of Somerset Hospital.
The six-storey medical facility offers a commanding view of the Cape Town Stadium where eight matches, including the semi-final, will be played.
However, the building's lifts only reach the third floor so a temporary external lift is being built in order to allow BBC workers and presenters, including Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Alan Hansen, to reach the studio without having to climb the last three flights of stairs.
The base of the lift is connected by a footbridge to the BBC's production unit, based in the hospital car park, which means staff and presenters will not have to enter the hospital at all.
The BBC said the lift had been built at the request of the hospital so that its coverage did not disrupt the treatment of patients.
A report in the Mail on Sunday quoted Dr Jacques Hendricks, the hospital's acting medical superintendent, as saying "I was at one of their planning meetings and the emphasis was always on security for BBC staff and presenters.
"Maybe that is because this is a state hospital where many poor people come to our emergency centre, often with gang-related and alcohol-related injuries like stabbings and gunshot wounds.
"The idea of a footbridge and an exterior lift seemed to come directly from their security worries. Or perhaps the BBC guys just don't want to walk the extra three flights of stairs.
"They could have used our lifts like everyone else, but they insisted on building their own on the outside of our main building."
He added: "We understand that about a million pounds has been spent on the rooftop studio and it is impressive."
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