We have celebrated an incredible milestone – our 50,000th abseil – and what better way to mark the moment than with a live broadcast on BBC One?
John Maguire, BBC Breakfast’s legendary reporter, joined us in Portsmouth to take on the landmark descent down the side of the tower. As he made his way 100 metres down our iconic structure, he interviewed Bobbie Oldfield, our Operations Manager, and Richard Hale, our General Manager, to share their excitement at the achievement and share all the highlights of a trip to the tower.
Alongside him, BBC Weather’s Matt Taylor delivered the morning’s weather live from our sky-high View Deck, with the stunning Solent as his backdrop.
The event was not only a celebration of our 50,000th abseil, but also a fantastic preview of another major moment: Our 20th anniversary, which we’ll be proudly celebrating later this year. Since opening in 2005, we have become a symbol of the South Coast, welcoming more than five million guests and offering unparalleled views from our 170-metre-high viewing platform.
Abseiling down the tower has long been one of our most popular and exhilarating experiences. From first-timers conquering their fears to charity fundraisers and thrill-seekers alike, we’ve now seen 50,000 people take the leap.
The abseil was carried out by our partners, Hatt Adventures, who ensured John’s descent was smooth on what was a perfect day for soak in the views.
We’re incredibly proud to have hosted BBC Breakfast and to share this milestone with the nation. Here’s to the next 50,000!
You can follow in John’s footsteps by booking your abseil here.
