Arkwright’s, Open All Hours 1970s. Photo: BBC Archive

Like me, if you’ve been ‘working from home’ for the last couple of months spending a good portion of your workday on what seems like endless Microsoft Teams or Zoom conference calls, you’re probably getting a bit weary trying to find a different room in the house to give your workmates something interesting to look at from a background standpoint.

If you’ve watched any 24/7 news channels during this time, you realize that the ‘shot of the day’ for anyone and everyone interviewed seems to be a corner of whatever room the interviewee is in with a bookshelf in the background. Sadly, do you now find yourself spending more time trying to figure out what books the person is reading as opposed to actually listening to what they are saying?

Doctor Who 1983. Photo: BBC Archive

If you answered yes to either or both of these questions, here comes the greatness of the BBC to the rescue. The Beeb is opening up the BBC Archives to give everyone access to their favorite British comedy or science fiction set to use as a backdrop for your next video conference call.

The Queen Vic, Eastenders 2005. Photo: BBC Archive

With over 100 empty sets from the BBC Archive to choose from, who hasn’t wanted to host a pub quiz from the Queen Vic (Eastenders), conduct a job interview from the friendly confines of Fletch’s cell (Porridge), or catch up with friends and family from the TARDIS (Doctor Who) or Manuel’s room in Fawlty Towers?

Manuel’s room, Fawlty Towers 1979. Photo: BBC Archive

All you need to do is click on an image to bring up a full quality downloadable version, right click and select “Save image as…”, then set it as your background image in your video conferencing application. This is going to be fun. I can’t wait for my call at 11a today to find out where I’m going to be….