Strictly Come Dancing ticket rush

September 13th, 2006 - 14:22 | 10 comments

At 0800 this morning the BBC released audience tickets for the new series of Strictly Come Dancing. They’re free, but available by phone only and the line was instantly engaged. My cheapest-in-the-Argos-catalogue phone does not, it turns out, have a redial button. I’d promised various people I’d do my best to get hold of tickets, and was dialling the number once every five seconds. At 0845, I got through to the BBC ticket line, where an automated guy told me to press 2 if I wanted to speak to an operative. Yay! I settled back into the chair with my paper and pen, and pressed ‘2′. I was greeted by a minute’s silence, then the line disconnected. There was a brief and exciting soliloquy, and twenty-five minutes later the process repeated itself.

The phone gods underestimate how stubborn I can get about these things, and I decided to keep trying until at least 1000, at which point I’d grab some breakfast then go back to the phone. I got through again, and nervously pressed 2. This time a friendly voice told me that lines were very busy, and I should phone back later. By this point I’d memorised the number and forgotten it again. Eventually I got lucky and was placed into the call queue, and at 1035 spoke to a lovely lady who told me there were still a few tickets available for the date I’d requested. The line went all crackly as I gave my postcode and I thought for a horrible moment it was going to disconnect, but happily it was good enough that we could understand each other. I hung up at 1040, very, very relieved.

It’s not a guaranteed booking. The BBC website says that failing to turn up can affect future applications, so I guess they check the names against their database. Not sure if there’s anything else that could affect it, but if all is ok the tickets will arrive a week before the show, so I’ll have to wait and see. There could still be one problem, though: what if Anton gets knocked out before then? I don’t know whether my companions will be consolable…:-)

Update: Have just spotted the tautology in the first four words of this post. Sorry about that, was clearly still excited at getting through

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10 Responses to “Strictly Come Dancing ticket rush”

1 Ed Sep 14th, 2006 at 1:24 am

Remember to get there early since they give out TOO MANY tickets
2 Ad Oct 29th, 2006 at 6:27 pm

If anyone can’t make it to any of the shows, i have a very desperate wife driving me mad to go! Please please help!
3 Suzanne Oct 30th, 2006 at 3:06 pm

If anyone has any tickets goin spare, i am DESPERATE to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ill payyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! pleeaaassseeee
4 Steve Nov 1st, 2006 at 3:28 pm

Im after a pair of tickets to any show of Strictly Come Dancing. Please Please can anybody help ?
5 Cathy Nov 6th, 2006 at 9:38 am

Please can someone advise the telephone number I shoul call to get tickets, I know I doubt I will get them this year, but maybe for next? or even dancing on ice?

Thank you
6 Andrew Nov 6th, 2006 at 10:24 am

Cathy - you should be able to find all the info you need here, though I doubt they’re selling next year’s tickets yet. I think Dancing on Ice is ITV, but they must have an equivalent system.
7 Hels Nov 22nd, 2006 at 4:18 pm

Hiya , i would love to take my mum to Strictly. I will pay for 2 tickets, if anyone cant go. We couldnt do anything for her Ruby wedding annivesary as she was ill, so i really want to make it up to her. Thanks Helen. x
8 ben Dec 10th, 2006 at 10:57 pm

hiya,
I’m looking for 2 tickets for either this week or next for strictly come dancing because it’s my girlfriends birthday and it would be a great suprise. i am willing to pay, so if anyone can help i would appreciate it,
thanks ben
9 Gary Walker Dec 12th, 2006 at 9:53 pm

Hi, desperately seeking two tickets for Strictly Come Dancing! I know they’re going to be like hens teeth (i.e. non-existent) but if you don’t ask, you’ll never know if there’s any floating around out there. If you can help, please drop me a line. Best wishes, Gary.

1 An Evening at Strictly Come Dancing (at wongaBlog) Pingback on Nov 6th, 2006 at 12:22 am

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