On Wednesday last week I got a call inviting me to be in the audience on Monday.

Because my other half was off to see Take That in Birmingham that day I couldnt make it. There were two recordings available, one at lunchtime and one at 5pm (if my memory serves me well).

I have wondered since if the Christmas shows are being recorded now, or whether it was just an ordinary show, I was surprised to get asked with such short notice. Also the recording times have changed a lot since I last went, then one was in the morning, the other after lunch.

You would have had your plans doused as Noel was off on sick leave until today, returning to work tomorrow.

In reality, the filming schedule ranges to mid-January now. But tomorrow and Friday six special Christmas shows will be filmed for the lucky six people who won the Christmas Appeal.

These will be showsn two on Christmas Eve, two on Christmas Day, and two on Boxing Day.

I'm going to see the second of the Christmas Eve shows and the first of the Christmas Day shows tomorrow afternoon.