Studio TC8 ? part of BBC Television Centre ? is the single most popular studio for the production of comedy programmes in the UK. Recently used to record episodes of Not Going Out, Mock The Week and Miranda; it has also been home to Dad's Army, Only Fools and Horses, Blackadder and Little Britain. However, redevelopment plans could see it demolished, following the recent sale of Television Centre to development company, Stanhope plc.

The closure is predicted to cause a chronic shortage of studio space in the capital. An online petition to save TC8 already has more than 650 supporters , including actor Colin Baker, who recorded episodes of Doctor Who there in the mid-80s.

Currently, only three of Television Centre's eight studios are planned to remain in use from 2015 following refurbishment .

Lighting director Martin Kempton, who's worked in TC8 on sitcoms such as Yes, Prime Minister and Miranda, says: "Most television programmes that use studios on a daily and nightly basis use studios that are 90ft by 70ft … [The BBC] used to have four studios that size and by losing three of them, that's put huge pressure on the industry."

"There isn't enough studio capacity as it is," says Not Going Out director Nick Wood. "We're all scratching our heads over what we're going to do ? where we're going to go … It only takes a couple of productions to pencil in the studios and then the third production won't have anywhere to go."

"The autumn is always the busiest period," explains Kempton. "It starts off around September and then goes right through to Christmas … You walk round Television Centre and all of the studios are heaving ? fully-booked everywhere you go. So, there will be a problem. Programmes will have to be cancelled … We don't know for sure whether there'll be another series of Not Going Out … but if there is … I don't know where that would go."

This autumn, with the whole of Television Centre closed for refurbishment, BBC Studios and Post Production will only be hiring out a small number of studio spaces in premises at Elstree. However, these stages cannot be "turned around" as quickly as those at Television Centre, meaning less programmes recorded over the course of one week. Campaigners argue that saving TC8 could help alleviate the pressure.

"There's no reason to knock [TC8] down," says Wood. "It's not in the way of the new development. It's just such a silly thing to do."

"All the power and the ventilation system, is all separate," explains Kempton. "It certainly would be possible to keep it … at one end [of the development]."

In a statement, Anna Mallett, chief executive of BBC Studios and Post Production, says that she is: "Looking forward to continuing to offer HD studios at Elstree and Bristol whilst Television Centre is being redeveloped and returning to the site in 2015 to operate three studios … to serve television production in the south-east."

Also in 2015, BBC Worldwide will take up residence in another part of Television Centre, previously occupied by BBC News. However, a question mark still hangs over the future of TC8.

"Everyone's so angry," concludes Kempton. "They're not upset in a nostalgic sense … People are just really, really angry that studios that are as well-equipped [are to close]. They are easily the best equipped studios in the country." The TV Centre site's developer, Stanhope plc, has declined to comment on TC8's future, but is expected to publish further detailed planning proposals this month.