6th-17th July 2022

What is MCR21?

MCR21 is a 1960s BBC Television mobile control room which has been restored by a group of enthusiasts with the help of a £100,000 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Why is MCR21 important?

MCR21 has been chosen by the BBC as one of the 100 objects that tell the story of the Corporation over the last 100 years.

The BBC outside broadcast unit was used to televise many historic events. MCR21 was at Brands Hatch motor racing circuit in 1964 when Jim Clark won the British Grand Prix. In 1965 it was at St Pauls Cathedral for Sir Winston Churchill’s Funeral and at Caernarfon in 1969 to televise the Investiture of the Prince of Wales. The technology of MCR21 was ‘state of the art’ for its time. It had four monochrome cameras, one of the first vision mixers to use transistors and a built-in twenty channel sound mixer.

When I can see MCR21?

MCR21 and its associated display will arrive at Amberley Museum on Wednesday 6th July and its display will be on show till Sunday 17th July.

What can I do?

Enter the production area and experience what it would have been like to be there when a programme is being transmitted. From pre-recorded material, the television monitors show the pictures from the four cameras recorded at a Jazz concert. You can hear the music being played along with the television director’s instructions to the camera operators.

Find out about the history of MCR21 and the many interesting facts about BBC’s television coverage of great events, dating back to 1937. There will also be ‘hands on’ experiences where you can try your hand at operating a 1960s television camera.