Every week it seems full of celebrities. Either former contestants and their partners or people from Eastenders etc. It seems like its just an excuse for the camera men to zoom in on them, like they are trying to say 'oooh look who we have in the audience'.

Do they not let ordinary people in? For X Factor, Big Brother, Dancing on Ice etc you can buy the tickets off applause store.

Also apparently according to popbitch the other week Ant and Dec were hiding at the back because if they were seen by their ITV bosses they would get in trouble Dec really wants to do the show.

Joe Public sits upstairs, so we rarely see them

I agree. I don't see why these celebs and their friends are given the best seats week after week. What right does Sara Philips and her boyfriend, or Trevor Brooking sitting behind her have to the best seats. Plus they don't have to queue up while the ordinary folk who pay the BBC's wages are left to queue in the cold.

I wouldn't mind if it was 20 or so but I read it's up to 200 of them given the best seats.

Celebrities ARE ordinary people..... just with stupid jobs!!

The celebs' families and friends are in the audience and they are ordinary people.

The VIP's get the good seats coz its good for the show, go public gets kicked out or upstairs.....

I think Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall were Austin's guests because obviously with 4 kids his wife can't come every week.

There have been lots of rugby guys in the audience every week.

But they don't have to queue in the cold.

Why is Bradley from EastEnders always there? Has he got a secret crush on Arlene or something?

... maybe hes getting tips for next year??.......

Mr Creosote, Trevor Brooking, from the Football Association was there.

Good old BBC. Same old tired faces, same old favourites.

No - Ola, said so last time he was interviewed.

Well, from the clips on Sunday, I'd say he has a crush on Austin! What with him, Tom and Craig, Austin should certainly be feeling the man love!

Tangoqueen and I sat downstairs (behind Heather's family) a couple of weeks ago. We are obviously celebrities
Nah, just VERY VERY lucky Am still buzzing from the experience SCD is VERY special - never doubt it

Actually, reckon the view from the balcony looked as tho' it would be a really good one - unimpeded by all the cameras etc on the set.

Yeah, Claudia or one of the "backstage reporters" took us up there one week on ITT and said the balcony was the best place to see all the dancefloor action.

Though it must have been nice for you to be close to the action I'm not sure why the OP thought only celebs were seated downstairs when we see GBP sitting there week in, week out.

I was in the gallery above the judges last year and it was a great view, so I wasn't complaining! Mind you, before the show Brucie asked if anyone who could dance wanted to have a go with him, and had I been downstairs I could have volunteered to foxtrot with him...

echo what Slinky says.

I was a guest of Christine Bleakley and admittedly in the first two rows of seats downstairs it seemed to be all the celebs' friends and family. Everyone around us was a guest of one of the celebs.

Agree with Slinky that the balcony DID seem to have a great view - when you are on the floor, there ARE cameras speeding around everywhere, although you are really close and do have a good view - they zap in front of you all the time.

The only time I got to sit downstairs was back in series 3 & 4 .... oh, how times have changed. I dare say various nobodies from Coronation St and Eastenders have those now. ... and yeah, like somebody said, they don't have to queue in the cold for five or six hours.

I hope James doesn't find out!

No, well, if my relative was on there and I got the chance to go I wouldn't want to queue in the cold either.

Omg - Dec and Lilia.

No......Dec and Ola!

I don't really mind friends and family sat downstairs, but it always seems to be the same old faces in terms of celebs. Bradley from Eastenders etc. Lisa Snowdon was always there last year- maybe Bradley will be on the show next year?

Why do they feel the need to have all celebs sat in the front row?

Dawn from EE said in an interviw that EE cast are offered tickets each week and she was getting in trouble for "hogging them". Perhaps her and Bradley are taking it in turns now!

What about those who sit to the right of the judges? They always look like the great unwashed to me and not celeb types.