A famous statue has returned to its BBC Television Centre home following repair and renovation.
The Helios sculpture is once again the centrepiece of the historic site, which is currently being redeveloped into homes, office space, restaurants, studios and a hotel .
It was designed by British sculptor T B Huxley-Jones and has stood in the rotunda at Television Centre since the former BBC headquarters opened in 1960.
Developer Stanhope and construction manager Mace have carefully returned the gilded bronze figure of Helios to the Television Centre "doughnut" after repair and renovation.
The Helios courtyard is being remodelled and the three-metre high gilded-bronze statue, which represented the radiation of television light around the world, will again be the focal point of a fountain and two reclining figures beneath the fountain bowl represent sound and vision, the two components of television.
The Television Centre redevelopment will provide 950 new homes – with 432 in the first phase - 500,000 sq ft of office space, a new Soho House club and hotel, as well as restaurants and cafes.
The BBC will return to three refurbished studios in September 2017 and BBC Worldwide completed their move to the site in March 2015, with more than 1,200 people in their new headquarters on Wood Lane.
Among the restaurants at the development will be the Homeslice pizza brand, run by Mark and Alan Wogan, the two sons of the BBC legend Sir Terry .
Alistair Shaw, managing director of Television Centre, said: “Television Centre is a British icon and the Helios statue is synonymous with this famous building.
"It is a very special moment for everyone involved with the project now that Helios has returned as part of the renovated inner courtyard.
"The BBC’s heritage has a vital role to play in the future of Television Centre and we will also be retaining the iconic Television Centre atomic dots, the John Piper mural and the cantilever staircase – as well as the beloved Blue Peter mural – which are all integral to what we are creating at Television Centre.
"This is not just a housing development, we are doing something very different here to create a vibrant new neighbourhood in White City .”
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