The BBC is reportedly exploring the sale of its Elstree Studios - the home of EastEnders - amid the corporation's ongoing cost-cutting and revenue-raising measures.
The site in Hertfordshire - owned by the BBC since 1984 - comprises the soap's backlot, multiple studios and stages and was also home to Holby City until the show's axe last year.
Recently the BBC spent almost £87m on rebuilding the exterior EastEnders set, going £27m over the initial budget, but just months after it appeared on screen for the first time, The Telegraph says that it could be sold off.
The newspaper reports that commercial estate agents Lambert Smith Hampton have been instructed to find potential buyers for the site, with a guide price set at around £70m - significantly less than has just been spent on the rebuild.
Any sale would include a firm commitment for the BBC to be able to pay further amounts to lease use of the studios to continue production of EastEnders for the foreseeable future.
In response, a BBC spokesman told the newspaper: "As part of our ongoing review of the BBC's property portfolio we are exploring the sale of Elstree and leasing back part for the continued production of EastEnders.
"There are long term commitments for the continued use of Elstree, for the parts which support EastEnders."
The timeframe for any potential sale is currently unclear. body check tags ::
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