Recording of "Strictly"

I'm lucky enough to have tickets for the show on 30th October, BUT, these do not guarantee entry. Is there anyone out there who has been to previous recordings and can tell me:
What time is a good time to get to the studios to get in the queue to be sure of getting in when they open the doors?
Are you able to leave a bag anywhere (for collection later) once you enter the building?
Are there toilet facilities nearby (the thought of standing in a queue for hours with no access to a loo ............... !!!)
Any other helpful hints would be appreciated
Thank you.

Would get the wonderful Creature of beauty and wonderment to change your user name first & foremost. Never a good idea to use an e-mail addy for a forum name (a spam magnet).

You can get such things as P-mates (for ladies to stand up to use the facilities). If you are solo you may be a bit stuck for leaving the queue. Most recommend arriving around lunch time so bring a chair & food.

Hope you get a good seat and have a great evening.

hawkeyed@btinternet.com wrote:I'm lucky enough to have tickets for the show on 30th October, BUT, these do not guarantee entry. Is there anyone out there who has been to previous recordings and can tell me:
What time is a good time to get to the studios to get in the queue to be sure of getting in when they open the doors?
Are you able to leave a bag anywhere (for collection later) once you enter the building?
Are there toilet facilities nearby (the thought of standing in a queue for hours with no access to a loo ............... !!!)
Any other helpful hints would be appreciated
Thank you.

Hiya. Saturday show goes out live. Obviously the Results show on the Sunday is recorded while you're there. It'll be a long evening - probably won't get out before 22.15.

My tips are these - bearing in mind when I went Robbie and Gary were singing and AW was dancing for the first time, so it may have been a bit more popular, so queue started forming early. However...

Get there at midday then you will almost certainly get in.
You can take a collapsible seat - and hand it in at the cloakroom.
Take a brolly if it looks like rain.
Take something to eat and drink - you can put rubbish in a nearby bin.
You can leave any large bag with cloakroom attendant. What I did was take a small haversack, stuffed full of goodies for two and in it put a very small handbag which I took into the studio with essentials (keys, money, card, train ticket) on the basis that if I lost my haversack, it wouldn't be disastrous and I could get home.
You can take an ordinary sized handbag into the studio with you except you'll have to stuff it under the seat.
Toilet facilities while you're in the queue are in the BBC main building - very easy to access. Someone can save your place in the queue if you're on your own.
You have to hand in your mobile at reception, which is a different queue from the baggage and coats queue. If you're with someone, when it's over, you can both stand in the different queues with your relevant tickets, to save time.
If you are at the front end of the queue, you'll be among the first to get in, which will enable you to get a chair and table in the hospitality waiting area where you can have a drink.
You'll also be in the studio door quicker. This doesn't guarantee a good seat but better chance of getting one.
You will enjoy the evening and it'll be a great experience.

Thank you very much. The info is very helpful. - Sounds like a long day!

Re the post by MrsArcanum, I appreciate your advice re changing my user name, but can't see how to do this. There is nothing in 'profile' which would allow me to do it & I cannot see any link to an Administrator of the site. Please could you advise? Thanks.

Thanks again to you both.

hawkeyed@btinternet.com wrote:Thank you very much. The info is very helpful. - Sounds like a long day!

Re the post by MrsArcanum, I appreciate your advice re changing my user name, but can't see how to do this. There is nothing in 'profile' which would allow me to do it & I cannot see any link to an Administrator of the site. Please could you advise? Thanks.

Thanks again to you both.

If you go to the section marked Administration and put up a thread there, they will see it or look for them in the memberlist (choose joindate and ascending ), they are the first two. You can send them a PM (personal message.)

hawkeyed@btinternet.com wrote:Thank you very much. The info is very helpful. - Sounds like a long day!

It is! But if you get your train (or whatever) connections well in time (ie not rushing and getting all steamed up) and now you know what to expect it won't be too bad. The wait in the queue goes quicker than you would think and everyone is excited and happy - the atmosphere is great. Good luck and enjoy your day

Can anyone tell me if mobile phones have to be handed in separately, or can they stay in bags that are handed over? - Also, do you get a 'comfort break' anywhere in the proceedings???!!! - Hope there are some good late night restaurants around the area: we'll be so hungry when it's all over!!!!