This is the first post I've started so please be gentle with me!

I've got tickets for the show in Blackpool next week and wanted to know how long people queue to get in. I have a medical condition which means I can't stand for long. Doors open at 3.15pm and am going down at 2.30pm. What do you think my chances are of getting in?

If I was you I would either

a. contact them and tell them about your condition or
b. take something portable to sit on or
c. if you are not going alone get that person to queue and find somewhere to sit.

I am in the same position as you (although not going to Blackpool) I would not be able to stand in a queue and I think they would have to take this into account. I would take something with you to show you have the problem such as your blue badge if you have one.

Thaks for your reply

I've contacted the BBC now and they are going to get back to me. Unfortunately I am taking my 81 yr old mum who has a bad knee .. a right pair! I don't mind going down and waiting my turn as long as I can sit down somewhere.

It's a few years since I've been, but for the London shows I think we reckoned on being there about 3 hours early to be safe. (And the trend year-on-year was that you needed to be there earlier and earlier).

No idea how it works now, or if it will be any different at Blackpool.

Good luck!

Unless they are willing to make special allowances, there is NO WAY you'll get in if you arrive then.

Good luck for getting into the show, rustybum (fab name!)

On a related thing ... the last couple of years I've put in a request for tickets with the usual thing that you can only apply for one date. Never been successful - I've previously gone for about week 3 or week 4 on the premise that while the totally useless ones may well have gone (and how wrong I've been about that!) there would still be a fighting chance of seeing the celebs I enjoy before they are eliminated. I also thought there would be more demand for shows later in the series. However I'm beginning to wonder if I'm doing it back to front - maybe everyone else is thinking this, and it is perversely slightly easier to get into a later show?

I do get a bit cheesed off seeing so many celebs in the audience, it must seriously reduce the chances of the public getting tickets.

When I went I had no problems getting in less than an hour before the show - but I was on the VIP guest list

Good luck to those that are going though.

Don't you all have seat numbers etc on your tickets.

Why do you have to queue for so long?

Are you saying that having a ticket doesn't mean you are sure to get in?
Just that you are allowed to join a queue, and might get in.
What a swizz!

No. They just have general admission tickets. They give out too many general admission tickets so you have to be there hours early to be sure you'll have a seat.

Not sure if it will be different for Blackpool, but when it is held at TV Centre more people are "successful" in the ballot than seats actually in the studio. This is because the tickets are free and they expect some people not to turn up on the day, but need to ensure a full studio.

When I went we got there at 12 and were about third couple in the queue. The vast majority turned up around 1.30pm.

Queueing was part of the fun though but I can understand if you have a medical condition/are elderly it may be difficult.

Hope you have a marvellous time Rustybum.

In the past we have taken stools to sit on and put them in the cloakroom once we actually got in, but that's at TV Centre. I have no idea how it works at Blackpool but there will definitely be more tickets than seats as that's what they always do. Unless the BBC can sort something out for you, I doubt that you'll get in if you don't turn up until 2.30.

BBC got back to me straight away and we can go in another entrance and sit down thank goodness.

It would be much easier if they allocated the correct number of tickets for entrance at 3.15pm and then allocated 'standby' tickets in case of no shows.

Thanks for all the advice

Oooooooh RustyBum, have a truly wonderful time! Good on the Beeb for getting back to you so quickly and helping you out.

So primitive way to do this.Why cant they charge a nominal fee then everyone would turn up if they had bought a ticket

If it is routine to issue more tickets than there are seats what happens if you have travelled a long distance to get there or even booked a room overnight and then when you get there they say "Sorry, no seats"?

[quote=peugeot;36424770]If it is routine to issue more tickets than there are seats what happens if you have travelled a long distance to get there or even booked a room overnight and then when you get there they say "Sorry, no seats"?[/QUOTE]

I went on 17th October and the couple behind us in the queue had travelled from Wales and were staying in a hotel for 2 nights. They queued from 11.30 to make sure they got in!
OP, I am pleased that the BBC have helped you out, it was a looooong wait!

Help. I am a bit concerned now as I contacted BBC about my mum using her mobility scooter and also a health problem I have but they haven't got back to me yet. There is no way could I stand for any length of time and as blackpool are not providing cloakroom facilities I can't even take any form of seating. Any suggestions????

I suggest you send a pm to rustybum and find out who she contacted at the BBC as they have managed to sort her out with no problems.

Bhoy, the BBC can't charge for tickets as they are a public funded organisation and it's not allowed in their Charter.

Unfortunately even if people have travelled a great distance and booked hotels, there is still no guarantee that they will get in unless they get there early enough in the queue. However, those who are unfortunate enough to miss out are usually offered guaranteed tickets for the Christmas Special which is usually recorded on the Monday or Tuesday before Christmas.

Hi allisuzy1

I rang the number shown on the tickets starting 0307. Press option 1 and stick with it (they throw other option in later) if you don't press the options they put you through to an advisor.

People with mobility issues are going in through the Bank Heys Street entrance, not the Promenade entrance. If it said that on the recent email confirming the new time you should be OK. If you're worried I would give them a ring .. I was working myself up into a right tizzy but am looking forward to it now.

Thank you rustybum not so worried now. Am really looking forward to it and so is my mum. See you there

Just to let you know, the Blackpool Gazette did a short piece last night on Strictly at the Tower. It talked about how the temporary stage has been removed to reveal the big staircases and that they've moved out all the 'caberet table' style seating. The ballroom will now hold approx 1000 people on Saturday night!! I'm going to hazard a guess that an awful lot of the people assigned tickets are going to get in (including, hopefully, me!). My tickets were numbered in the 300's and I know someone who's tickets are in the 600's. Has anyone got tickets that were numbered over 1000? I know they're giving a number away in association with the dance classes being held around the Northwest, but that can't be more than 50-100 or so. If you estimate approx 100 VIP tickets will be there on ground floor front row, that's still 800 spaces for us lot.

Ive got tickets for blackpool too!

Im seriously debating whether to go or not!

I only live 20 mins away from blackpool and the weather has been seriously hideous! We have to queue along the front, and i dont have a clue what time to get there for! there is no where for us to get changed or dry our hair, or anything like that!

Im seriously confused! as i really want to go!

any advice people please?

Stuff the hair! are you joking how can you not go

Theres other underlying things but i would rather not say..

hair just a lame excuse haha.

i would love to go though..


basically my question is..
what is the best time for us to be queueing up?

(we dont have mobility problems)