BBC gives update on MasterChef coming to Birmingham and says 'progress'

A new state-of-the-art studio on Fazeley Street is being built to host hit BBC cooking competition MasterChef

Building work is 'progressing' to transform a historic Digbeth warehouse into the new permanent home of the BBC's hit series MasterChef. The popular cooking programme will be moving to the former Banana Warehouse on Fazeley Street after it was announced the show would be relocating from its London headquarters, where it had been produced for two decades.

Construction work on the new state-of-the-art studio got underway in December 2023, with former MasterChef winner Dan Lee on hand to watch the early stages of the developent work. Developers say the new studio is the 'first step' in a wider regeneration plan to transform the 20-acre site into a thriving creative quarter, with over 900 new homes.

Building work had been expected to be completed in autumn 2024, but there is not yet a confirmed date for when the hit cooking series will start filming in Birmingham. Speaking last year, Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight - asset manager in the project - said bringing MasterChef to Digbeth was the 'realisation of a long-held dream that world class TV and film production will come and thrive in Birmingham.'

READ MORE: Historic Birmingham city centre pub named 'most underrated' put up for sale

While the team behind MasterChef remained tight-lipped on when the show would start filming in Birmingham, they revealed work was 'progressing' to bring the show to Birmingham in the near future. The abandoned Grade-II listed building on Fazeley Street, by the Grand Union Canal, will be transformed into a new studio for the show.

Designs for the site by Digbeth-based architecture practice, BG Projects, include a new modern extension which will reflect the original design of the historic 1800s warehouse once used for shipping. The new studios are set to support 750 new local jobs and will be the home of the MasterChef series for the 'forseeable future.'

The new Digbeth film studio comes as the BBC prepare to move their Birmingham headquarters to Digbeth in a new broadcast centre known as the Tea Factory. The former Typhoo factory, which shut down in 1978, is soon to be the new home of BBC Midlands Today, BBC Radio WM, Newsbeat and the BBC Asian Network.

Speaking last year, Peter Denton of Homes England - who own the land at Fazeley Street - said: "The restoration of the Banana Warehouse secures an exciting future for a building that is a key historical asset. We're very pleased that this work will bring a major TV production to the heart of the West Midlands, creating unparalleled new opportunities, jobs and investment.

"It is a transformational achievement, and we look forward to continuing to work with our partners to realise the opportunities that Digbeth has to offer."