I was just reading the thread in Donna's game, where people have talked about what it was like going to watch the filming - I'm sorry I can't remember the name of the person who posted, but it's at the end of page 8. I really enjoy hearing about people's experiences of going to watch the show, the moments that ended up on the cutting room floor, and things you were just surprised by. So if you've been in the audience I would very much like to read about the experience you had!

I went to watch Patrick's show which was showed on March 10th - more famous for being the first appearance of the one and only JT! I loved going to watch it being filmed, especially being able to eat an unlimted amount of Pink Wafers in the audience holding area was the best part! I was surprised how much of it gets edited out, how long it takes to make decisions etc. I don't know whether this still happens, but Noel had to film "pick-ups" - just about 3 or 4 clips of him picking up the phone and placing it down.

The last time I went up we didn't get any biscuits (sob) the games haven't been shown yet so i can't comment on what happened but we did have a gliche with the lighting which meant sitting in the audience for over half an hour between games while they tried to fix it, the poor warm up guy only had about 10 minutes of patter so was desperatly looking around for things to talk about it did affect the atmosphere of the second game which is a shame as its a corker of a game it took everyone till the third round to get into it as we were all freezing cold and cheesed off. The first game was brilliant as well a real lovely person which overran quite a bit as the person was so funny and had great storys to tell. However when it was all over got to meet the wonderful 50 game Lucy and Noel even though it was literally for a couple of mins with Noel but over half an hour with Lucy, suddenly the cold and the bloomin awful weather didn't matter as we all piled into the car and gabbled on about what a fab day we had.

Love it will I go back you betcha next year for sure

No wonder poor old Noel got RSI!

I'll certainly be applying for tickets for the audience this summer.

I'm definitely gonna go again. Might as well take advantage of living close to Bristol.

Suezan, do they still have a Whiteboard in the Holding area where they have the "Question of the Day" or something? - We had "Where are you from?" very exciting, lol. So many people were students!

Also - all the audience reactions are completely real! I can't remember if we were encouraged to go "oooooh" if someone took out a high red, but it's instinctive! I found it really funny at first when everyone went "oooooh!"

You also get told things like not to look at the camera, but it's kinda embarassing when one's stuck in your face!

It was great experience going down to the filming last month, and I would go again for sure. The Endemol staff were helpful, and it was nice meeting members of the contestant's families, and other audience members. The warmup guy was great, I had a good chat with him, then he interviewed me in front of the audience and the contestants about this forum which I was able to give a good plug! Noel did one or two retakes, and was very nice to the audience. It was a long day as I saw one show in the morning and two in the afternoon. As for the shows, all I can say is that they were very entertaining, and you really get into the tension and drama. It takes some getting used to that you don't hear the music during the show other than the opening theme, but in some ways the silence just adds to the drama! The shows I saw come out December 20-22nd next week so I can't say anything else about them just yet.

you'll have to tell us where you're sitting Rico so we can look out for you!

Rico, have they changed the filming sequences? Back in the good old days, it was one in the afternoon and 2 in the evening which made for a really long, tiring day with lots of hanging around in the morning prior to pick up. It was also mighty strange, eating dinner at 4pm!!

I was also at the afternoon recordings on the 7th November (the 21st and 22nd December shows) and did indeed meet rico7 there!!!

In addition to what rico said, I was sat next to the husband of one of the female contestants on the 22nd December show and plugged the site to him too. In that show, was sat three rows behind where the LTL draw takes place.

In the 21st December show, I was sat three rows from the front right next to the steps where Noel goes to ask an audience member to pick the LTL box number. All I'll say is he didn't ask me!!!

All in all, it was a great day and so was the first time I was in the audience of DoND (Trev's game - recorded on 15th June, transmitted on 19th October).

I have heard that they start filming now at 10:45am, and are finished by 5:30pm at the latest.

your right H

glad they didn't do that with us!! We needed to extra lay in's for all that drinking we did every night and the strolling in at 4am!!!

Yeah, I was disappointed that David didn't get asked being in that position. I sat two rows behind him at the centre back in the game for Thursday 21st December, and just behind where the LTL draw takes place on the 22nd December, and just a little further back on the 20th. I think I was wearing a black polo neck.

Yes they have changed them to finish much earlier now with the final afternoon show finishing around 5.30pm. The first show I saw started filming just after 10am I think.

Do they still give out beer in the audience holding area? And are you able to watch three shows now rather than just the one I was allowed to go and see?

I was allowed to watch 3 shows, but they told me that most people only come for the morning or the afternoon as it makes it a long day. I don't think beer was available, well I never got some anyway.

There was wine back in may but last two times it was tea coffee or water

They probably don't want the audience getting drunk! I'd imagine the security is very tight for getting into the audience. Because I heard that in the early days, a lot of drunk students were tying to get in the audience for the evening recordings!

believe me H by the time you q up to get it they are calling you in, I have yet to ever finish a drink yet lol

do any of the contestants talk to the audience when its not being filmed?

No hun they stay behind their boxes, and in between shows you stay in your seats while they exit, if you are qing for the next game (last game of the afternoon) you are asked to cheer them as they walk past but they don't stop to talk to you.

who doesn't?