BBC Broadcasting House

This morning I joined  a group tour of the Marylebone area in London. It is an area well known for its medical history - the prestigious Harley Street - its literary history - Baker Street and the fictional Sherlock Holmes, Wimpole Street and Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Charles Dickens also lived in the area in Marylebone Lane. It is also home to the Royal Academy of Music, the music conservatoire in London, and of course Madame Tussaud's waxworks.

This is part of the BBC building at the corner of Portland Place and Langham Place. The first radio broadcast from the building was made on 15 March 1932, and the building was officially opened two months later, on 15 May. The main building is in Art Deco style, with a facing of Portland stone over a steel frame. It is a Grade II listed building. Unfortunately it was colder than expected so many of us were shivering by the end of the tour and I could not wait to duck into a cafe for a warming cappuccino!

Last night Gavin and I went to see Labour of Love, with Martin Freeman and Tamsin Greig. It is one of the most brilliant plays I have seen in a long time - it was so funny, with razor sharp humour delivered with perfect timing, and has a very interesting plot about a Labour Party MP throughout a 27 period of his career. I highly recommend it. Tamsin Greig replaced Sarah Lancashire who was originally cast but then could not take up the role due to her TV commitments (Happy Valley 3?). However Tamsin Greig was absolutely superb.