Northern Girl on... Studio Recordings


  • Room 101 
  • That Thing on a Friday Night
  • Tim Vine Travels in Time 
  • Taskmaster 
  • Unspun with Matt Forde 
  • John Bishop in Conversation With... 
  • Jason Manford's Big Heads 
  • Your Face or Mine 
  • The Unbelievable Truth 

You'd be forgiven for thinking I'd decided to list all my favourite TV/radio shows, but these are all the things I have had tickets to the live recordings of. They take place around various London locations and best of all they're a great way to spend an evening in London without spending a penny.

(Meeting Ricky Wilson!!! at a Room 101 Recording)



How to get tickets?

A lot of the headlining comedians will post on social media when the tickets are available but there are certain production companies and dedicated sites that you can register for:
  • Hat-trick productions - producers of shows such as Have I Got News for You and Room 101. Visit https://hat-trick-productions.tickettext.co.uk/hat-trick-productions/ to apply for specific shows currently available and when first visiting, be sure to register to their mailing list for updates when new shows are released.
  • BBC Shows and Tours - shows such as Tim Vine travels in Time and A Question of Sport. Like Hat-trick productions, they have a dedicated page for all their current shows http://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/shows/ or you can also join the mailing list to get updates direct to your inbox when new shows are released.
  • SRO Audiences - shows such as The Last Leg, The Graham Norton Show and Bigheads. Tickets can be found at http://www.sroaudiences.com/ with each show listed individually or alternatively their mailing list can be found on the "Contact Us" tab on their menu.                     

Getting to the studios
  • Elstree studios (Room 101, Big Heads, Unspun with Matt Forde etc.). Thameslink run a direct train service from Blackfriars and London St Pancras to Elstree and Boreham Wood and the studios are only a short walk away from the station.
  • Pinewood (Taskmaster etc.). Pinewood is not so easily accessible, with the nearest bus stop still being a 20 minute walk away, they do however have vast parking facilities available on site.
  • The London Studios (Loose Women, Your Face or Mine, The Graham Norton Show etc.) - On London's South Bank, the studios are a short walk to Southwark (Jubilee Line); Waterloo (Jubilee, Northern and Bakerloo); Embankment (Northern, Bakerloo, District and Circle) and Temple (District and Circle).
  • Broadcasting House (BBC Radio Theatre, The One Show etc.). As one of the BBC's HQ's, Broadcasting House is a short walk from Oxford Circus Tube Station (Bakerloo, Central and Victoria Lines).
  • There are various other theatres and minor studios throughout London with short walks to the nearest tube. All this information will be provided when you receive tickets/confirmation of the shows.

Other tips

The shows are ALWAYS looking to fill the audience so you can guarantee that they will have allocated far more tickets than seats available. Even with a barcoded ticket you're not always guaranteed entry. I would advise applying for as much as possible to give yourself options and remember, the tickets are free so whilst it is disappointing at least you're not out of pocket!

The majority of studios will have security checks so pack light to ensure you get through quicker.

If your ticket has a 'tickets validated from' or 'doors open' time, aim to get there at least 30 minutes before that time, even if it seems like a long wait until the actual recording. Broadcasting House and Elstree both have onsite cafes/bars where you can get snacks and drinks and sit and wait for the show (you can even watch the BBC news room whilst you drink your coffee in Broadcasting House).

For tickets that are on first come, first served basis you will need to arrive at least an hour before the scheduled time.

If you do miss out, some of the shows such as John Bishop in Conversation With will allow you to re-register with priority meaning you are guaranteed entry to the next show of your choice.

(enjoying a coffee at Broadcasting House before Tim Vine)
NG x

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