Originally named The Concert Hall, the theatre was designed by George Val Myer as part of the BBC's new Broadcasting House building.

[1] On 6 September 1939, Stuart Hibberd wrote that: Wakened by sirens at 6.50 a.m. in Broadcasting House, I scrambled into some clothes and went to the concert hall now being used as the main shelter for those on duty.

The other was filled with people sitting and standing around in groups, dressed in all sorts of garment: girls in dressing-gowns of various hues, some thirty or more charladies, some with their mops and buckets, and engineers and programme staff on duty, like myself.

[6] In 2012, a developmental Super Hi-Vision (8K) video system with 22.2 surround sound audio was installed in the theatre to show the London Olympics and its opening ceremony.

[13] The Radio 2 In Concert series is broadcast from the theatre; contributing artists include Stereophonics,[14] Jeff Lynne's ELO,[14] James Morrison,[15] Emeli Sande,[16] Ed Sheeran,[17] and Paul Weller.