The Blind Date set at ITV London Studios
UK - As Blind Date returns to prime-time television, illumination specialists LED Creative is supporting the crews at the legendary, iconic dating show and the Big Brother’s themed housemate challenge.
Filmed in front of a live studio audience at ITV London Studios the new Blind Date stays faithful to the winning formula of the original. Hosted by Paul O’Grady and featuring the sliding panel and three question format, the show pits three hopefuls against each other, fighting to win the attention of a mystery date.
Created by scenic designer, Chris Webster and lit with LD Oli Richards, the suitably fabulous set balances a blend of cool neonesque LED against a warm tungsten glow provided by an array of cleverly housed LED practical fixtures that form the backdrop. LED Creative’s Alpha 60 RGB system has been put to good use, adding crisp accents that edge the set pieces as well as providing the smooth, tones inside the all-important sliding doors.
Commenting on the project, LED Creative director Ges Smith says: “It’s an absolute pleasure for us to be working with the crew on such an iconic piece of prime time TV. The team has done a great job with the set - the contrast and interaction between scenic LED and the studio fixtures creates a fantastic look to the show.”
Meanwhile, at the Big Brother house in Elstree, lighting director, Adrian Portinari, has been making clever use of LED Creative’s Sigma Wands and Byte control, which the LD artfully programmed via a Compulite Vector lighting desk, to add some illumination magic to BB’s own Blind Date style task.
To build colour, shape and movement into the featured task, which saw a selection of potential new housemates being questioned from behind a sliding partition, Adrian used a number of LC Sigma Wands, creatively placed throughout the backdrop to compliment the Big Brother branding.
Smith adds: “As ‘plug and play’ rental kits, our Sigma Wands are ideal for relatively quick installs where controllable creativity is key. Adrian has made really great use of them on the BB set - the look is colourful and clean but the skill is in his programming which has subtly brought the backdrop to life without ever distracting from the tension of Big Brother’s Blind Date task!”
(Jim Evans)

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