[Bluecortina]

One story about the GMTV launch I do recall reading on TVF or TVLF was that great effort was made to install a real fire in The London Studios as part of the original backdrop - it was swiftly dropped when the original GMTV format flopped.

It wasn't a real fire! It was gas flame effect fire.

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Presumably they ran the suite in parallel with ITV as if it was on air with the same network programmes that were actually going out on Thames, LWT and TVam? The same over at HTV for Westcountry?

Too long ago for me to remember. I seem to vaguely recall it was the same TX rehearsal schedule everyday - one of the programme tapes was a little 'racy' perhaps that's why I remember it. They could have operated it along the lines you say but I don't particularly remember that. I know nothing of HTV or Westcountry I'm afraid.