A Guide to QI Recordings 2007

QI Recordings take place at The London Studios (located on the South Bank near Waterloo). They will start in just 2 weeks time and tickets for the first two shows have already been issued.

The studio has a capacity of approx 400-500 (we counted the number of rows and seats). However, the show is very popular and getting into the recordings can be a challenge. At least half of the seats are deliberately double-booked (sometimes it has looked like the entire audience has been double-booked). Arriving early is essential because the show is so popular. Doors open at 18:45 but arriving before 18:00 is necessary to guarantee entry.

If you're travelling any distance or at any expense arriving even earlier is advised. You shouldn't take any risks because travel and accommodation costs cannot be refunded by applause store. If you're travelling from outside the UK I advise that you call applause store (instead of using the online application) in order to request priority tickets. They are not always available but if you can get them they will ensure that you will gain entry (you'll still have to make sure that you arrive by 18:00 though as this is the point when the two queues are separated).

The nearest tube station is Waterloo station on the Jubilee, Northern, Bakerloo, and Waterloo and City lines. It's about 5 minutes walk from Waterloo to the studios, check this map (the studios are marked as "The London Television Centre").

Once in the studio you will be able to go to the toilet before the start of the show. However, problems often arise from people darting to the toilets as they walk in. Applause store staff request that you wait until you have sat down before going to the toilets.

Recordings normally take between 2:45 and 3:15 from doors open with a finish time between 21:30 and 22:00. However, the recording itself isn't normally longer than 2 hours. The first three quarters of an hour after doors open are required to get everyone seated, the crew to get ready and for the warm-up guy (Stephen Grant being a regular star) to do his stuff.

Since the recording takes nearly two hours, there's a lot that only you and the audience will ever see. Most of what is cut will go simply for time, although with the guests you get on some shows a significant amount can't be broadcast even at 22:00 on a Friday night.

I look forward to meeting some of my blog's readers at the recordings...

P.S. The Telegraph column should be available tomorrow and I'm hoping for another exclusive feature somewhen towards the end of this week.