Gambo hosts final show from Wogan House on BBC Radio 2

Written by Roy Martin

Broadcasting House in London is now the official home of BBC Radio 2 after Paul Gambaccini hosted the final show from Wogan House.

Previously known as Western House, Wogan House has been the home of BBC Radio 2 since 2006 and was renamed in tribute to Sir Terry Wogan in 2016.

The building, at 99 Great Portland Street, and located close to Broadcasting House, has been used by the BBC since 1953. It has been home to BBC Engineering, BBC Sound Effects and the BBC Club, complete with a gym and bar for members to use.

The BBC announced it would close Wogan House back in November 2022, along with Bridge House in Media City in a bid to reduce costs.

Programmes started moving to brand new studios on the 8th floor of new Broadcasting House late last year with Bob Harris and Scott Mills, with one of the final ones, Radio 2 Breakfast, making the big switch only last week.

Several presenters hosted their last shows from Wogan House in the last few weeks, with some of them marking the occasion on social media (see below).

BBC Radio 6 Music has also moved – the last live show for the network was on February 11th.

At BBC Radio 2 on Sunday evening, Gambo paid tribute to everyone who has worked in the building. He started ‘the final show from Wogan House’ with If You Leave by OMD.

He talked about the chair he was sitting in and the studios around him. “David Jacobs and Ken Bruce sat in this chair. Steve Wright gave us the big show. Terry Wogan, Chris Evans held court. Tony Blackburn played thousands of hits and told even more bad jokes.

“Brian Matthew and Janice Long shared their love of music, and Sally Traffic and Moira Stuart gave us the best of spoken word.

“This place has been the place to be if you wanted to meet giants of broadcasting, thanks to Jim Moir who was appointed Controller in 1996.”

The final show turned into a tribute to Sir Terry, playing his favourite song from Nat King Cole – Stardust, followed by artists he helped including Katie Melua and Eva Cassidy.

And the final song? It had to be the The Floral Dance.

As for Wogan House, in the final words of Steve Wright on Sunday Love Songs last week, Tada then.


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