Richard Martin Lighting (RML) supplied the lighting and crew once again to this year’s 30th fundraising Children In Need appeal show filmed live at BBC Television Centre (TVC).

The outstanding efforts of all those that took part raised donations of over £20 million, which is used to fund projects helping our disadvantaged young people of Great Britain.

Lighting Designer, Dave Gibson of the BBC was called up once again to light this extravaganza show, who chose seasoned programmer Andy Dobbs as his automated lighting operator.  RML have been supplying CIN for the past 8 years working alongside many of our talented UK TV lighting designers.  Dave has been the Lighting Director on Children In Need for the last 4 years .

There were four separate areas that required lighting within TVC, the lobby area had Pixelpar 90’s, Mac 500’s with the newly designed Pudsey gobo controlled by a Spark Top desk.  The outdoor rig consisted of Boosters, 2k Moving High Grounds, City Colour 1800s and Pixelpar 90’s, operated by RML’s Pauly Bellman on a Spark Top.  Led by Lawrence Robinson and assisted by technicians, Dan Neagle, Lidz Milheiras, and Mark Turner.

TC6 hosted the hospitality area where the VIP’s were entertained with a live performance from the Nolans, Lighting Designer Lee Allen used Mac 600’s, Chromaspheres, Mac 500’s and Mac 250’s with the Pudsey gobo cartwheeling across the dance floor.

LD, Dave Gibson along with his team, Andy Dobbs, David Bishop, Paul Holroyd , Rob Bradley and Jamie Bishop ran the live show from TC1 using VL3500’s, VL1000TS, Chromabanks, Pixellines, Mac 500, Pixelpar 90’s, VL500’s, Chroma Batten 50’s, Mac 600, 8 Lights, Chrome Impressions, Alpha Beam 300’s, Alpha Beam 700’s, VL3000 spots and washes, Nova Flowers, Chromastrips and Atomic Strobes.

For the second year running RML donated the 35 x 10 m Color Web screen which Pudsey used to send out his charitable message across the front of TVC.  Technicians Richard Shout and James Tinsley overseen by RML’s Dan Neagle braved the rain along with Rosco of the Unusual Rigging Company to put up the Color Web which was co-ordinated by BBC’s Adam Heyhurst.  The latest addition to RML’s stock, the Martin P3-100 system controller also got its debut with 16 LC panels within the bomb void around the main reception windows.

Terry Wogan took to the stage with his presenting partners Tess Daly and Alesha Dixon for the marathon show introducing the star studded line up which included music from the likes of Pixie Lott, Taylor Swift, Spandau Ballet, Madness, Sugababes, Little Boots, Paolo Nutini, Westlife, and Annie Lennox.  Soap stars from The Bill and Hollyoaks treated fans to tributes of The Rat Pack and Queen and the BBC Newsreaders dressed up and did a turn for charity.

Dave Gibson had this to say about the event, “ It is always a great pleasure to be involved in an event such as this, it is brilliant and challenging to have the chance to light such a wide variety of acts, in such a short space of time . We have approximately 30 mins each per act, to rehearse over the previous two days.  I appreciate the flexibility of having so many automated fixtures available along with the variation of video footage from the media servers (Hippotisers). I specified Alpha wash 300 and 700s as new fixtures for this year and was very pleased with the results especially from the new Alpha 700’s.  All in all a great experience .I would like to thank the whole team involved with lighting this year,  you all did a fantastic job well done .”