BBC Television Centre Closes And Vernon Kay Tries To 'Steal' A Sign | HuffPost

What Did Vernon Kay Try To 'Steal'?

The Huffington Post UK

Vernon Kay has revealed he was caught trying to steal a BBC sign from the Television Centre by a security guard.

The 'Family Fortunes' host said he "couldn't resist" trying to nab a souvenir from his first-ever TV dressing room from when he worked on the 2000 'Fully Booked' spin-off show, 'FBi'.

He reportedly told The Mirror: "The security guard was lovely though and said he would put my name down for it if it came up for auction."

According to the paper's website, Phillip Schofield also wanted a piece of TVC. He inquired about the Studio 7 sign from where he used to film 'Going Live!' - only to find it had already been nicked.

On Friday, the BBC waved farewell to the iconic Television Centre after 53 years with a series of shows remembering highlights from their time there.

The BBC buildings in White City, the Corporation's home since 1960, were sold off for £200 million and will close on 31 March.

The building in West London, built around a fountain in the famous doughnut-shaped structure, was picked up by properly developers Stanhope Plc for £200m in July and will be converted into a complex with shops, offices homes and a hotel. Staff are relocating to central London.

The main circular building was given Grade II listed status by English Heritage in 2009.

A catalogue of stars have passed through its corridors during its 40 years as the country's major television studios.

Crowds of star-struck teenagers would regularly crowd outside the gates on Shepherds Bush's Wood Lane on the days when 'Top of the Pops', 'Saturday Superstore' and 'Live and Kicking' were welcoming pop stars to their Green Rooms.

Other iconic spots include the Blue Peter Garden, with its statue of Petra, and the Blue Peter mural which sat on one of the building's outside walls until it disappeared when an extension was recently added.

BBC TVC

BBC Television Centre closure(01 of36)

Madness perform outside BBC Television Centre, London, to the mark the end of the BBC's years of broadcasting from the building. (credit:PA)

BBC Television Centre closure(02 of36)

Madness perform outside BBC Television Centre, London, to the mark the end of the BBC's years of broadcasting from the building. (credit:PA)

BBC Television Centre closure(03 of36)

Madness perform outside BBC Television Centre, London, to the mark the end of the BBC's years of broadcasting from the building. (credit:PA)

BBC Television Centre closure(04 of36)

Madness perform outside BBC Television Centre, London, to the mark the end of the BBC's years of broadcasting from the building. (credit:PA)

BBC Television Centre closure(05 of36)

Madness perform outside BBC Television Centre, London, to the mark the end of the BBC's years of broadcasting from the building. (credit:PA)

BBC TV Centre(06 of36)

The fountain in the courtyard of the British Broadcasting Corporation's 12 million Television Centre, in Wood Lane, near the White City, London. Believed to be the biggest television headquarters in Europe, it will be opened officially on June 29th. (credit:PA)

British Media - Television - The BBC - London - 1960(07 of36)

The fountain in the courtyard of the British Broadcasting Corporation's 12 million Television Centre, in Wood Lane, near the White City, London. (credit:PA)

City Views - London(08 of36)

A general view of BBC Television Centre in Central London. (credit:PA)

BBC Television Centre - White City - London(09 of36)

The exterior of the BBC Television Centre in White City, London. (credit:PA)

End of BBC studios(10 of36)

File photo dated 23/10/12 of a general view of BBC Television Centre, Wood Lane, London, as BBC stars condemned the closure of Television Centre as they recorded a special show to bid farewell to the famous building. (credit:PA)

BBC Television Centre / BBC Broadcasting house(11 of36)

The vast circular building which forms the main block of the British Broadcasting Corporation's 10,000,000 Television Centre in Wood Lane. When finished the building, shaped like a qiant question mark, and designed by Mr Graham Dawbarn, FRIBA, will be Europe's biggest TV centre. (credit:PA)

Television - BBC Television Centre Model - Wood Lane, London(12 of36)

A model of the British Broadcasting Corporation's new 10,000,000 Television Centre in Shepherd's Bush, London. It will be Europe's biggest TV headquarters. The design was inspired by a question mark which the architect, Graham Dawbarn, absently pencilled on the back of an envelope. (credit:PA)

BBC TV Centre(13 of36)

Inside the studios of the British Broadcasting Corporation's 12 million Television Centre, in Wood Lane, near the White City, London. Believed to be the biggest television headquarters in Europe, it will be opened officially on June 29th. (credit:PA)

Television - Cambridge Bat Race Crew - BBC Television Centre Visit - Shepherd's Bush, London(14 of36)

Members of the Cambridge crew, away from training, get a close-up of a Dalek, from Dr Who, during an eve of the Boat Race visit to the BBC's Television Centre, Shepherd's Bush (credit:PA)

Entertainment - Eurovision Song Contest 1963 - BBC Television Centre, London(15 of36)

Singers from all over Europe assemble for the cameras beneath a giant scoreboard which will be used for the 1963 Eurovision Song Contest, held at the BBC Television Centre, London. Participants include (top l-r) Heidi Bruhl representing Germany, unknown, Monica Zetterlund (Sweden), Annie Palmen (Netherlands), Anita Thalloug (Norway), Alain Barriere (France), Laila Halme (Finland), Carmela Corren (Austria), Grethe and Jorgen Ingmann (Denmark), Ester Ofarini (Switzerland), Nana Mouskouri (Luxembourg) and Jacques Raymond (Belgium). (front sitting) Jose Guardiola for Spain and Emilio Pericoli for Italy. (credit:PA)

Media - Peter Woods - BBC Television Centre, Wood Lane(16 of36)

BBC newsreader Peter Woods (in car), arriving at the Television Centre, Wood Lane, London. Woods talks to Michael Sullivan, TV reporter at the picket line. (credit:PA)

BBC Flag/Dando(17 of36)

A flag flys at half mast at the BBC Television Centre, London, in respect of Jill Dando, who was murdered outside her home in Fulham, South West London. (credit:PA)

Television - BBC Television Centre - Wood Lane, London(18 of36)

BBC Television Centre, Wood Lane, London, it was one of the world's first buildings designed specifically for the making and transmission of television programmes (credit:PA)

Buildings and Landmarks - BBC Television Centre, Wood Lane(19 of36)

BBC Television Centre in Wood Lane, London. (credit:PA)

POLICE BBC Ford/TV centre(20 of36)

BBC Television Centre in Wood Lane, London, where an intruder burst into the BBC radio and television newsroom in sending journalists, including newsreader Anna Ford, scurrying for cover. According to one witness the intruder threw a small table through a glass window and threatened staff. (credit:PA)

POLICE BBC Ford/TV centre(21 of36)

BBC Television Centre in Wood Lane, London, where an intruder burst into the BBC radio and television newsroom in sending journalists, including newsreader Anna Ford, scurrying for cover. According to one witness the intruder threw a small table through a glass window and threatened staff. (credit:PA)

BBC tv bomb blast damage(22 of36)

The damage caused to the exterior of BBC Television Centre, Wood Lane by White City underground station, in London, following an explosion which destroyed a taxi in the early hours of 04/03/01. Coded warnings were received by the Police. * ...and bomb disposal teams attempted to carry out a controlled explosion when the bomb went off. (credit:PA)

Comic Relief Jack Dee stunt(23 of36)

Comedian Jack Dee on top of a 50 foot pole where he will try to remain as long as possible at BBC TV Centre. Dee is sponsored per hour to remain at the top to raise money for the biennial fund-raising extravanga, Red Nose Day. (credit:PA)

BBC bomb blast scene(24 of36)

The scene outside the BBC Television Centre in Wood Lane, London, following an explosion which destroyed a taxi in the early hours of 04/03/01. Coded warnings were received by the police. * ...and bomb disposal teams attempted to carry out a controlled explosion when the bomb went off. 12/3/01: Anti-terrorist branch officers investigating the BBC bomb were evaluating information gathered after motorists and passers-by were stopped and questioned about the attack. Detectives were hoping to pick up vital clues from the public amid fears there may be a bomb-making factory in the capital. (credit:PA)

Live8 Concert(25 of36)

The secondary control room at the BBC TV centre in Shepherd's Bush, west London, where all TV pictures from the Live 8 concerts from around the world are gathered and fed to the various countries taking the pictures across the globe. (credit:PA)

BBC job cuts(26 of36)

General view of the exterior of the BBC Television centre, in White City, West London. (credit:PA)

Television - Robert Robinson - BBC TV Centre, London(27 of36)

With the camera through the lenses of which we will see their as yet unnamed Autumn Saturday night BBC1 Television show are (l-r) Robert Robinson, Bill Oddie, Lynda Baron, Leonard Rossiter and John Bird. Here they are photographed during rehearsals at BBC Television Centre. The new show will run for 75 minutes each Saturday evening for 26 weeks, Robert Robinson will take care of the conversation, John Bird will take care of the sketches, Lynda Baron, singing and dancing, and with general support from Leonard Rossiter and Bill Oddie. (credit:PA)

BBC strike(28 of36)

Striking journalists on the picket line outside BBC Television Centre, London. (credit:PA)

BBC Children In Need Appeal 2011(29 of36)

EXCLUSIVE TO PRESS ASSOCIATION. The cast from Rock of Ages perform during the BBC Children In Need Appeal 2011, at the BBC Television Centre, Wood Lane, White City, London. (credit:PA)

BLUE PETER(30 of36)

PA NEWS PHOTO 27/3/86 A LIBRARY FILE PICTURE OF "BLUE PETER" TELEVISION PRESENTERS PETER DUNCAN (LEFT), JANET ELLIS AND SIMON GROOM WITH PUPPIES BORN FROM THE PROGRAMMES GOLDEN RETRIEVER "GOLDIE" AT THE BBC TELEVISION CENTRE IN LONDON (credit:PA)

BBC Children In Need Appeal 2011(31 of36)

EXCLUSIVE TO PRESS ASSOCIATION. Presenters Terry Wogan and Tess Daly with the updated total during the BBC Children In Need Appeal 2011, at the BBC Television Centre, Wood Lane, White City, London. (credit:PA)

BBC Children In Need Appeal 2010(32 of36)

Hosts Sir Terry Wogan and Fearne Cotton unveil the grand total raised for the evening, as of 0200 GMT, of 18,098,199, during the finale of BBC Children In Need Appeal 2010, at the BBC Television Centre, Wood Lane, London. (credit:PA)

Television - BBC - Tomorrow's World - London(33 of36)

South African heart surgeon Dr Christian Barnard at the BBC Television Centre in White City for a recording of Tomorrow's World. (credit:PA)

Kidnapped BBC correspondent reported killed(34 of36)

The BBC's Director General Mark Thompson leads a staff vigil for kidnapped journalist Alan Johnston outside BBC Television Centre in White City, west London. (credit:PA)

Savile sex abuse investigation(35 of36)

File photo dated 23/10/2012 of BBC Television Centre, Wood Lane, London, as the BBC revealed it is investigating nine allegations of "sexual harassment, assault or inappropriate conduct" among current staff and contributors as the fallout from the Jimmy Savile scandal continues. (credit:PA)

BBC Television Centre in London(36 of36)

A general view of BBC Television Centre, Wood Lane, London. (credit:PA)

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