Hi all.... I searched high and low for tips and came across Digital Spy and previous comments really helped but thought I'd add my own perspective.
My friend and I travelled down on Friday night for the semi final and had booked Premier Inn which is less than a mile away and in walking distance... but if I was ever lucky enough to win tickets again I'd book into Ibis which is opposite the studios.
We did a recky when we arrived and am so glad we did as it's not the easiest place to find in the dark! It was only after we found the gate that we then saw notices pinned to lampposts at the bottom of Maxwell Road!!
Parking: There are a few on street places which are free as pay and display only operates Monday to Friday. If you can't find any on Maxwell Road, immediately behind Ibis is a huge pay and display car park and is literally 2 minutes walk. Great for the actual show and if you've got heels on! If you are joining the queue early doors, it's free until 8am. (£5 for the whole day).
We decided to join the queue early hours after reading all the comments. I dropped my friend off at 3.15am with chairs, umbrellas rugs and sleeping bags and I parked! We ended up being 29 and 30 in line. The first person had arrived at 10.45pm Friday night. She received a Strictly Annual 2017 for her efforts. By 4.30am the queue was 100.
Toilets aren't really an issue as Tescos is 5 minutes walk and open 24hours. There is a Costa coffee machine which was needed about 5am! McDonalds is opposite Tescos but didn't open until 7am. If you turn right at the bottom of Maxwell Road there is a Shell garage with toilets, coffee and a deli to go. Opened to the public at 5am. There are cafes in Borehamwood which open a little later and some did go and have breakfast.
6 hours in the queue actually went quite quickly. Everyone was extremely friendly... well, we all had one thing in common didn't we?
Probably the main stream of people started to arrive from 6am. Security walk up the path asking you to stay to one side as it is public walkway so if you do "camp out" stick to the edge.
Validation was 9am prompt and was quickly done. We were told a come back time which is staggered so queuing when you come back isn't as important as earlier. We didn't need ID. Our sticker number was put onto our ticket.
I was back in bed by 9.15!! We had planned to have lunch in the Premier Inn but we had been misinformed by staff that the restaurant would be open. Wrong! Only open at 5pm which was obviously too late. Fortunately, they made us a club sandwich but I think this was a one off as they turned others away.
Our return time was 3.30 but we joined the queue at 3. It was throwing it down but we were allowed in early to avoid the audience looking like drowned rats. It really doesn't matter now when you go through to the holding area as your ticket number is the number you go into the studio. The only advantage of getting into the area early is you get a seat, otherwise it's standing until 5pm.
Security isn't very stringent ... I think they rely on honesty! Mobile phones are taken, (I didn't even take mine with me). The cloakroom is free so wearing a coat is not a problem.
There is a bar which sold basic wine, beer, water and packets of crisps.
There is a photo booth, but it wasn't working so can't comment on that.. sorry.
There is an area of chairs for people with access problems, otherwise, it's first come first served for all other chairs.
After reading the comments about toilets, I was somewhat paranoid, but they were really OK and enough not to have to queue too long. They are small, admittedly, but they worked and were clean.
They take you into the studio in numerical order and they were quite strict with this, especially for the first 30. Numbers 1-24 are the golden ticket and are seated on the dance floor at the opposite end to the band. Not sure how well you would see though if you were on the 2nd or 3rd row...
We were taken behind the judges to the right, next to the steps the contestants come down. It's from now, that it all seemed bit random where you were seated. The floor managers showed you where to sit and there was no negotiation. Our seats, although quite near the back were brilliant. We were lucky to be raised, at the end of a row and had lots of leg room. We could see everything. Handbags went under chairs and I took a pashmina just incase it got a little cold… didn’t need it. It was very warm but if you were under an air conditioner, it was quite cold.
Once the show had started you could go to the toilet but only during VT. We had water in our bags and had taken a few nuts to keep us going… I did see some eating sandwiches!!
There was a warm up guy who explained the process of the evening. There was one pre-record: Sting, and then Tess and Claudia came on about 15 minutes before showtime. Claudia…. Absolutely hilarious, and apart from official information about numbers, her autocue read…. “Claudia: adlib.” Tess read everything from the autocue.
The show started at the time it was advertised, so there was no delay… totally live.
It went by so quickly. It was fascinating to watch the runners, prop guys change scenery in the time it took to run the VT. It was a well oiled machine.
Once the show had finished there was about a 15 minute break where a small carton of juice was handed out and a kitkat. You could go to the toilet at this stage too.
The results show was very stop, start and they recorded the group dance twice. (Apparently, the audience didn’t respond well enough!!!)
After the results show had finished, (10.15ish) we left the studio quickly as we knew there would be a long line to get our coats. The line went extremely quickly though and we were back at the hotel bar with a gin and tonic in hand by 10.45!
I must admit my hands were really sore after all the clapping and even now, 2 days later, my throat is still recovering, but it was a magical day and one I will not forget in a hurry.
This is a review of my experience of the Semi Final, 10th December 2016 and I really hope it will help any other lucky attendees in the future; but, I’m sure things will change from week to week, (and year to year) so please don’t take it all as gospel and check it out before you go.
Have fun… I did.
My friend and I travelled down on Friday night for the semi final and had booked Premier Inn which is less than a mile away and in walking distance... but if I was ever lucky enough to win tickets again I'd book into Ibis which is opposite the studios.
We did a recky when we arrived and am so glad we did as it's not the easiest place to find in the dark! It was only after we found the gate that we then saw notices pinned to lampposts at the bottom of Maxwell Road!!
Parking: There are a few on street places which are free as pay and display only operates Monday to Friday. If you can't find any on Maxwell Road, immediately behind Ibis is a huge pay and display car park and is literally 2 minutes walk. Great for the actual show and if you've got heels on! If you are joining the queue early doors, it's free until 8am. (£5 for the whole day).
We decided to join the queue early hours after reading all the comments. I dropped my friend off at 3.15am with chairs, umbrellas rugs and sleeping bags and I parked! We ended up being 29 and 30 in line. The first person had arrived at 10.45pm Friday night. She received a Strictly Annual 2017 for her efforts. By 4.30am the queue was 100.
Toilets aren't really an issue as Tescos is 5 minutes walk and open 24hours. There is a Costa coffee machine which was needed about 5am! McDonalds is opposite Tescos but didn't open until 7am. If you turn right at the bottom of Maxwell Road there is a Shell garage with toilets, coffee and a deli to go. Opened to the public at 5am. There are cafes in Borehamwood which open a little later and some did go and have breakfast.
6 hours in the queue actually went quite quickly. Everyone was extremely friendly... well, we all had one thing in common didn't we?
Probably the main stream of people started to arrive from 6am. Security walk up the path asking you to stay to one side as it is public walkway so if you do "camp out" stick to the edge.
Validation was 9am prompt and was quickly done. We were told a come back time which is staggered so queuing when you come back isn't as important as earlier. We didn't need ID. Our sticker number was put onto our ticket.
I was back in bed by 9.15!! We had planned to have lunch in the Premier Inn but we had been misinformed by staff that the restaurant would be open. Wrong! Only open at 5pm which was obviously too late. Fortunately, they made us a club sandwich but I think this was a one off as they turned others away.
Our return time was 3.30 but we joined the queue at 3. It was throwing it down but we were allowed in early to avoid the audience looking like drowned rats. It really doesn't matter now when you go through to the holding area as your ticket number is the number you go into the studio. The only advantage of getting into the area early is you get a seat, otherwise it's standing until 5pm.
Security isn't very stringent ... I think they rely on honesty! Mobile phones are taken, (I didn't even take mine with me). The cloakroom is free so wearing a coat is not a problem.
There is a bar which sold basic wine, beer, water and packets of crisps.
There is a photo booth, but it wasn't working so can't comment on that.. sorry.
There is an area of chairs for people with access problems, otherwise, it's first come first served for all other chairs.
After reading the comments about toilets, I was somewhat paranoid, but they were really OK and enough not to have to queue too long. They are small, admittedly, but they worked and were clean.
They take you into the studio in numerical order and they were quite strict with this, especially for the first 30. Numbers 1-24 are the golden ticket and are seated on the dance floor at the opposite end to the band. Not sure how well you would see though if you were on the 2nd or 3rd row...
We were taken behind the judges to the right, next to the steps the contestants come down. It's from now, that it all seemed bit random where you were seated. The floor managers showed you where to sit and there was no negotiation. Our seats, although quite near the back were brilliant. We were lucky to be raised, at the end of a row and had lots of leg room. We could see everything. Handbags went under chairs and I took a pashmina just incase it got a little cold… didn’t need it. It was very warm but if you were under an air conditioner, it was quite cold.
Once the show had started you could go to the toilet but only during VT. We had water in our bags and had taken a few nuts to keep us going… I did see some eating sandwiches!!
There was a warm up guy who explained the process of the evening. There was one pre-record: Sting, and then Tess and Claudia came on about 15 minutes before showtime. Claudia…. Absolutely hilarious, and apart from official information about numbers, her autocue read…. “Claudia: adlib.” Tess read everything from the autocue.
The show started at the time it was advertised, so there was no delay… totally live.
It went by so quickly. It was fascinating to watch the runners, prop guys change scenery in the time it took to run the VT. It was a well oiled machine.
Once the show had finished there was about a 15 minute break where a small carton of juice was handed out and a kitkat. You could go to the toilet at this stage too.
The results show was very stop, start and they recorded the group dance twice. (Apparently, the audience didn’t respond well enough!!!)
After the results show had finished, (10.15ish) we left the studio quickly as we knew there would be a long line to get our coats. The line went extremely quickly though and we were back at the hotel bar with a gin and tonic in hand by 10.45!
I must admit my hands were really sore after all the clapping and even now, 2 days later, my throat is still recovering, but it was a magical day and one I will not forget in a hurry.
This is a review of my experience of the Semi Final, 10th December 2016 and I really hope it will help any other lucky attendees in the future; but, I’m sure things will change from week to week, (and year to year) so please don’t take it all as gospel and check it out before you go.
Have fun… I did.
