I didn't get Blackpool tickets this year - nor did nearly a dozen friends/family, all of whom live in the Blackpool area. I know the odds are probably low, in proportion with the number of people who apply, but it's disappointing that so few local people get to attend this show. Oh well!
However, I did get tickets 5 years ago (but have failed to get them each year since!). I did go then, queued from 10am (there were actually a good 100 people in front of me even that early on), and was let inside the building, after a looooong, cold queueing time, at 4pm (although people further back the queue would presumably still have been outside for longer than that).
I do understand that they now bring people inside the Tower earlier (around 12pm), and put them all in the Circus to wait until they are ready for them in the Ballroom. Please note, there is NO ticket validation that allows you to leave and come back. At Blackpool, they expect you to queue, and wait inside the venue from morning until filming time.
The reports about the Tower's ban on any outside food are correct - I'm not entirely sure what they expect people to do, as the Tower complex itself isn't open during Strictly being there, so presumably the food places are open despite the attractions being closed. Vastly overpriced food though, obviously. Although we had to stand in the wind and rain the year I was there, at least we could take turns going to McD's/KFC/Boots etc for food and toilet breaks. I suspect if you are able to smuggle some snacks inside your bag - i.e. if you open you bag for inspection, the food won't be visible, but it can be snuck in whatever pockets you have - then they won't be whipping away your snackbars and water bottles. Just be discrete. I don't know if things have changed since I went, but there was no kitkat/oj given out in the break between filming. Again, I don't know if this is more about the Tower's policy on food, or just a case of the BBC not bringing cases of Kitkats to Blackpool the year I was there. But, again, there were no provisions - and very little time to go to the loo. There are decent toilet facilities though - as you'd expect from an attraction like the Tower.
Here's the thing, the filming of the show was fantastic to watch, the ballroom is incredible. I have a very strong connection to the Tower Ballroom - my grandparents met there during the war, as my granddad was stationed near Blackpool, and my nanna was the daughter of a Blackpool hotel landlady. Without that place and it's dancing traditions, I wouldn't exist! So, watching the fantastic dancing was amazing, and it was a good evening.
But this is not the venue where you can wear your high heels and sparkly outfit, unless you want to be crippled at the end of the day and freezing cold to boot! Dress warm, dress for comfort, and take something to keep you amused for up to 6 hours whilst you wait!!! BTW, the year I was there, they didn't take coats, bags, phones etc (they don't really have cloakroom facilities the way they do in the studios) - so anyone going has a fair chance of keeping their phone with them, and maybe being able to give out results spoilers very quickly after the show finishes taping. Above all, I hope you enjoy the show!
BTW, Radio Times has the listing for Blackpool's result show - and Shirley Bassey and McBusted are listed as the performers. So that's something to look forward to - I expect Shirley will be particularly well suited to the Tower Ballroom setting!
