The Millennium Dome (Part 1)

Joining me today to discuss the infamous, and at times unexpected story of one of modern Britain’s greatest folly’s turned success stories - The Millennium Dome, is comedian Matthew Crosby

At the end of the twentieth century on the banks of the River Thames, an extraordinary structure rose from the rubble of an old industrial wasteland… The Millennium Dome.

Born under the Conservatives…

Embraced by Tony Blair's New Labour…

Promoted as a spectacular symbol of a new Britain...

But almost from the beginning, the Dome became a political battleground…

The headlines were merciless.

Was this Britain's great celebration of the future?

Or an expensive political vanity project?

When the doors opened on New Year's Eve 1999, there were crowds, confusion and huge queues.

Millions visited. Some loved it. Others hated it.

And when the Dome finally closed, critics seemed to have their white elephant.

But the story wasn't over…

The ensuing years included huge dance music parties. Diamond heists. And eventually the Dome was reborn and became one of Europe's iconic entertainment destinations.

So what really happened?

Was it a political triumph?

A spectacular failure?

A vision simply ahead of its time?

Or a combination of all of the above and so much more?

This is the story of the most infamous new building in our lifetime - this is the rise and fall and rise again of The Millennium Dome.

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