Fire breaks out at former BBC Television Centre in White City

People are being evacuated as around 100 firefighters battle a massive blaze at the old BBC Television Centre which is home to a host of popular shows.

Fifteen fire engines are in attendance at the nine-storey building on Wood Lane in London's White City with the blaze having begun in the early hours of this morning and crews are expected to be there all day. The television centre produces many ITV shows, including Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, This Morning, Loose Women and The Graham Norton Show, as well as BBC programmes such as Strictly Come Dancing and QI.

The fire is affecting floors towards the top of the building which was the national broadcaster's headquarters until it moved in 2013 and is still a fully functioning TV studio complex, while also now featuring luxury apartments, a hotel, and other amenities.

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Wood Lane is closed to traffic and London Fire Brigade is advising people to avoid the area while a "rest centre" has been set up for people who have been evacuated from buildings.

A statement from the London Fire Brigade said that a "restaurant, external decking and ducting" is on fire while the blaze could be affecting an "unknown" number of flats.

"Fifteen fire engines and around 100 firefighters have been called to a fire involving a mixed-use building on Wood Lane in White City," it said.

"The building is nine storeys and the fire is currently affecting floors towards the top of the building. A restaurant, external decking and ducting is currently alight. An unknown number of flats have also potentially been affected by the fire.

"The Brigade is working alongside multi-agency partners, including the Metropolitan Police, to evacuate buildings in the area as a precaution. A rest centre is being set up for residents who have been evacuated from their homes."

The fire brigade said that they were called shortly after 3am this morning with crews from Hammersmith, North Kensington, Kensington, Chiswick and surrounding fire stations attending, and they are expected to remain at the incident for plenty of time.

"Wood Lane is currently closed to traffic and people are advised to avoid the area as the incident will remain ongoing for some time," said the statement from the fire brigade.

"The Brigade was called at 0308 and Control Officers have mobilised crews from Hammersmith, North Kensington, Kensington, Chiswick and surrounding fire stations to the scene.

"Two 32-metre turntable ladders are also attending and are being deployed as water towers to help extinguish the fire from height. The Brigade's drone team is also in attendance, providing the Incident Commander with a greater situational awareness of the fire. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time."

An update at 8.19am on X read: "Firefighters continue to work to extinguish the fire affecting a mixed-use building in White City. We are expected to remain on scene throughout the day."