BBC Studios and Post Production (BBC S&PP) provided full technical services and crew for the live segment in Monday’s episode of Eastenders.

The episode, which drew 7.3m viewers, saw Billy Mitchell carry the Olympic Torch through Albert Square.

BBC S&PP said that with OB units in high demand because of the Olympic Games it had to pull in an OB unit from Northern Ireland through SIS to deliver the ten-minute segment.

19 fibre Sony HDC-1500 cameras were positioned at different locations around Albert Square and a quad bike with a radio camera was used to follow the torch.

A steadicam was also placed in front of Perry Fenwick, who plays Billy Mitchell, to follow his journey around Albert Square, while a 30 foot Super Scorpio Telescopic camera crane was used to shoot the scene from above.

23 radio microphones were placed on cast members around the set and 50 effects microphones were used to add various sound effects.

Head of drama services at BBC S&PP John O’Callaghan said: “To be able to deliver a live event on this scale was a great honour and the crew were certainly on a high when the torch and its security team came onto the set.”

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