Hope this sort of topic is allowed, don’t see any reason why it shouldn’t be, but has any members ever been in a TV audience before?
I remember visiting New York at a time when The Jeremy Kyle Show was filming there, and as someone who is interested in behind-the-scenes bits, I was quite fascinated. This may sound weird but, you can’t beat a smell of a TV studio!
i was going to write here a now late relative of mine was in the audience for Pebble Mill at One but I don't think it was that show, since I believe that went out live? This was pre-recorded, went to Pebble Mill (I presume it was Pebble Mill) and everything. But I can't remember what the damn show was, I think it was some sort of interview show?
I got tickets to X Factor in 2018 when I had an afternoon of work, but realised I’d need a whole day, so I rebooked for the Monday after, but I didn’t get offered tickets for that.
I've been to be a few, mostly chat shows but it's always fascinating seeing the internal workings of TV. Some recordings make you realise how studios are much smaller in real life.
I’ve been in the audience for three programmes. Countdown, at Granada Studios and 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and Judge Rinder, both at MediaCity. All I’ll say is that there is a lot of waiting around for any programme you may see.
From my own experience Countdown was probably the best experience as not only you got to see the show, the warm up was excellent, you were catered for and you got to participate whether that asking questions with the hosts or guests, or getting pictures and autographs. It’s filmed as it is shown, the only breaks were for any retakes (caused from sound or camera issues) or to flip the board around.
Cats does Countdown was hilarious and the vast majority of what you saw was cut out, as the recordings can go on for a couple of hours. When they took a break in filming, Jimmy Carr stayed in the studio and told a few jokes whilst everyone else went out for a break/cigarette.
Rinder was the most interesting as you got to see three cases being recorded. The first two we saw were straightforward, but the third one became complex which saw Robert leave and re-enter the studio several times after having to make enquiries in relation to the case. It was very interesting but it really dragged and the audience became agitated after while as we hadn’t moved for the best part of 2 hours.
The missus saw Jeremy Kyle being filmed at MediaCity as well and she enjoyed it, but there was a lot of waiting round also.
Been to quite a few recordings at The London Studios and Riverside - you realise how small the sets actually are and how lighting makes a massive difference. Without the lights the set looks so dull.
I went to Alan Carr's Summertime Spectacular, nice to get beers and snacks on entry (probably to loosen up us )
Been to some, Countdown twice when it was at Leeds, two recordings of Taskmaster at Pinewood, Through the Keyhole at BBC Elstree Centre which gave us tickets for Celebrity Juice down the road at Elstree Studios, and finally The Graham Norton Show at Television Centre in 2019. I did get a ticket to be in one of QI's virtual audiences this year, but illness got me on the day it was.
QI and Cat's Does Countdown are on the bucket list for the future.
I was in the audience for the first episode of Pointless which was fascinating, particularly because it was at TV Centre. The warmup guy got me singing 500 Miles by The Proclaimers, can’t fully remember why.
The X Factor auditions in Glasgow was fun, despite Jedward’s first audition being the standout moment. Mrs Brown’s Boys also in Glasgow was a bit like being sat at the theatre.
I went to see 'The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson' while in Los Angeles at CBS Television City. All i remember was the building was extremely run down and in need of refurbishment. Even the posters for the shows that were being taped there hadn't been updated in years. Presumably when James Corden took over the show, that refurbishment happened. Watching the show was a great experience, though i was surprised just how little we could hear in the studio audience.
I went to see 'The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson' while in Los Angeles at CBS Television City. All i remember was the building was extremely run down and in need of refurbishment. Even the posters for the shows that were being taped there hadn't been updated in years. Presumably when James Corden took over the show, that refurbishment happened. Watching the show was a great experience, though i was surprised just how little we could hear in the studio audience.
Craig regularly mocked the conditions he worked in. Interesting to know that he really meant it! Was it the older, duller set you saw, or was it the newer one where Secretariat had a stable?
Graham Norton is a lot of fun to watch as an audience member although they film 90 minutes worth of content and only use half of it.
I'd like to see a gameshow recording although I suspect much like sitcoms and panel shows, they're probably not as fun to watch live.
One thing about Graham Norton
Do they film him every week saying
“Time for the red chair...”
“Time for the red chair, just the one this week...”
“No time for the red chair this week”
And they just decide how many red chairs if any to include depending on the quality of the stories offset against the quality of the celebrity chat, in the edit?
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