Drapes, softs and special effects company S+H Technical supplied 350sq.m of its animation cloth and 50sq.m of its RGB Starcloth product to the event, which were an essential element of the spectacular production design created by Alex Craig.
Alex's studio set evoked fantasy images of both high-tech and retro fairground attractions and was based around multiple LED screens, surfaces and scenic decoration, with an impressive five-layered pros arch and many dramatic curves. It provided dynamic backdrops to the all action line-up with guest appearances from Ellie Goulding, Selina Gomez, Jess Lynn and numerous others, plus lively 'specials' like the cast of maverick soap EastEnders performing a rousing rendition of Top Hat.
He initially calculated how many areas of set would be required and then started curving shapes based around CIN mascot Pudsey Bear's head, ears and arms, combined with the idea of fairground thrills like wavy rollercoaster tracks.
The S+H Animation cloth - featuring high density individually controlled LED pixels that can create low-to-medium images, video loops and flash animations - was wrapped around the perimeter of the studio, run via one of the lighting consoles and effectively linked the colour and movement of the content and images appearing on the screens and other LED surfaces.
These 'soft' products also amplified the size of the set, particularly on camera - and gave a full 360 degree perspective - so it looked a lot larger simply by filling in gaps with a lightsource, an effect particularly noticeable on the wide and moving crane shots.
The starcloth was used behind some specific set pieces to create for those classic twinkling 'magic' television moments, of which there were many during the up-beat, lively show.
Fundamental to the overall design was the desire to create "a sense of excitement, occasion and also of scale" explains Alex, adding that he also had to keep things practical for staging the diversity of back-to-back show items, many lasting only two-three minutes, in which time presenter resets and other processes are also taking place around the set.
The 2015 Children in Need broadcast - the 35th anniversary of the appeal - was directed by John L Spencer, the show's lighting designer was Gurdip Mahal and the executive producer was Paul Wright.
Hosts were Dermot O'Leary with Tess Daly, Ferne Cotton, Roschele Humes and Radio One's Breakfast Show host Nick "Grimmy" Grimshaw, with Shane Richie hosting the sections broadcast on BBC Two.
(Jim Evans)
