VERSA Studios, the Manchester-founded network of premium TV and film studio production facilities, is expanding its London footprint with the acquisition of an additional 200,000 square feet of space adjacent to its existing location in Ealing, West London.
The new facility will house one of the UK’s most iconic reality shows, ITV’s Big Brother, including the celebrity edition, with the nightly Late & Live show to be filmed next door at VERSA’s original London studio. VERSA has fibre-linked the facilities so that its TV broadcast technology can be connected to all of its studios. The expansion strengthens the UK and London’s position as a global production powerhouse and further establishes VERSA as a leading TV and film studio provider, supporting the UK’s thriving production industry.
The new space will provide versatile infrastructure for TV, film, and live productions, and its fibre-linked connectivity designed specifically for live broadcast TV shows will attract both UK and international productions, particularly from the US. As part of phase one of VERSA’s London expansion, the facility plays a central role in the company’s long-term growth plans.
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This expansion brings VERSA’s total studio space across the UK to 600,000 square feet, with additional space set to be added as part of its future plans. Following the successful relaunch of its historic Manchester TV studios and its thriving Leeds location for film production, VERSA is emerging as a key player in the UK’s studio business. Building on the success of these locations, the new space in London will host Big Brother, further cementing VERSA’s reputation as a prime destination for high-profile productions. This expansion reflects VERSA’s ongoing commitment to supporting the UK’s creative industries.
With this expansion, VERSA strengthens its investment in the UK’s creative economy—creating jobs, supporting education, and driving both local and national growth—while reinforcing its commitment to world-class studio spaces for global content creators.
Jody Collins, director of production for Big Brother producer Initial, said: “The most iconic house on television has found a new home, and we couldn’t be more delighted. The needs of the production are substantial and VERSA is uniquely equipped to meet these demands. Expect a season filled with exceptional and unforgettable reality moments—we cannot wait!”
Charlie Ingall, executive director, VERSA Studios, commented: “VERSA’s expansion in London has been part of our ambitious growth strategy, and it further elevates our business as a first choice for large scale, high profile productions such as Big Brother. The significant investment we have made in this expansion gives us the ability to create long term homes for our clients, and in turn support the TV and Film community.”
VERSA was established in 2018 when the company began operating Granada Studios in Manchester – the former home of Granada Television and ITV – with the aim of providing brand new facilities for a traditional studio industry. It has since gone on to establish three studio complex facilities in the UK’s main production centres of London, Leeds and Manchester. VERSA has built four new TV studio tech galleries to power these studios, making it one of the most versatile studio operators in the UK, capable of meeting the requirements of both scripted and unscripted productions.
