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Original poster

BGT live semi finals

285 replies

Stopdropnroll · 17/05/2022 22:11

I've got tickets for the first BGT semi final but it's one of those where they give away too many tickets so you have to go and queue on the day.

In a moment of madness I've booked train tickets and a hotel on the off chance we manage to get in but I'm wondering if anyone has any experience of this or any tips!

It's at Hammersmith appollo so I've booked hotel nearby as I'll have DD(8) with me so if we do get in I don't want to be dragging her on the tube late at night.

Our train gets into Euston at 9.10 so we'll tube it straight to Hammersmith to get in the queue but I'm wondering if we'll be too late even by then. I've seen something online from 2019 that said they started giving out tickets at 9.30 and all were gone by 11am... We would be there before 11am but probably only by half an hour.

If anyone has any experience of this let me know. I've already warned DD that we might not get tickets and that we'll have a lovely couple of days in London if we don't. Just want to know if I'm completely mad even trying to get tickets 😬

OP posts:
Kat058 · 31/05/2022 16:07

Hi all, have gotten tickets for the Thursday semi final and am planning to be there to queue for about 9:30 - 10ish. Do you think this would be ok? Also does anyone know what the bag situation is, do they let you take handbags in with you?

Original poster
Stopdropnroll · 31/05/2022 16:54

Kat058 · 31/05/2022 16:07

Hi all, have gotten tickets for the Thursday semi final and am planning to be there to queue for about 9:30 - 10ish. Do you think this would be ok? Also does anyone know what the bag situation is, do they let you take handbags in with you?

Yes that should be fine. They let you take bags in but they do search them so don't have any food or drink in them.

OP posts:
Kat058 · 31/05/2022 17:07

Had a change in plans and now not going to be there until just after 12, is it worth it to still go see if there’s any left or will they all be gone?

summer1971 · 01/06/2022 07:49

Can’t quite believe we managed to catch the 7.18 train this morning after a long day in the rain at Thorpe Park yesterday. Get to Waterloo at 8.17 and heading straight to Hammersmith. Accidentally covered myself in glitter this morning, so probably look like I haven’t gone home from the night before 😂Feeling rather conspicuous on the commuter train and my 2 children (17 & 15) are pretending I’m not with them.

Tan3006 · 01/06/2022 08:29

@summer1971
Have a fantastic day …Can you let me know how you get on please 😊

Bonjovispjs · 01/06/2022 08:48

@summer1971 That's hilarious, but don't worry, you'll fit right in, there were a lot of sparkly people there😂

I was at the show last night, it was a great show, but I was disappointed with the seats unfortunately. They still seem to be sticking to giving out the circles rather than the stalls first, it was a good view of the stage (when people weren't standing up) but we couldn't see the judges at all, seems the later you come, the better seats you get now, which is really unfair on all the people who make the effort to get there early, maybe some people prefer the circle, but I definitely don't, the seats we've had in the stalls previously have always been brilliant, I don't know why they've changed it! I guess the problem with going later though is there's a risk of not getting in at all, so at least we got in, I might send applause store a stroppy email😆

Oh and I'm pissed off that Simon put the rappers through over the dogs, I wanted the dogs to win😄

Pinkstar28 · 01/06/2022 09:01

Bonjovispjs · 01/06/2022 08:48

@summer1971 That's hilarious, but don't worry, you'll fit right in, there were a lot of sparkly people there😂

I was at the show last night, it was a great show, but I was disappointed with the seats unfortunately. They still seem to be sticking to giving out the circles rather than the stalls first, it was a good view of the stage (when people weren't standing up) but we couldn't see the judges at all, seems the later you come, the better seats you get now, which is really unfair on all the people who make the effort to get there early, maybe some people prefer the circle, but I definitely don't, the seats we've had in the stalls previously have always been brilliant, I don't know why they've changed it! I guess the problem with going later though is there's a risk of not getting in at all, so at least we got in, I might send applause store a stroppy email😆

Oh and I'm pissed off that Simon put the rappers through over the dogs, I wanted the dogs to win😄

We had never been before so can’t compare seats, but up in the circle we couldn’t see the judges unless standing up. There seemed a lot of friends and family in the front rows of the circle so who are they putting in the stalls?

we really wanted the dogs to go through as well. I really didn’t think much of the other two but the crowd were going insane for them last night. I disagree usually with Simon deliberately going to the public vote like he did Monday. But was really hoping he would have last night 😆

Bonjovispjs · 01/06/2022 10:35

@Pinkstar28 I've always had brilliant seats in the stalls, even if they weren't right near the front, you could still see everything, I had no idea there were so many professional dancers in the aisles during some of the acts last night until I watched it back this morning as we couldn't see them at all!

Yeah, we were sat behind the military kids families but with the aisle between us, I just know friends and family were downstairs at the auditions at the Palladium in January because we were told, so I thought it was the same now, but I guess not, the people in the stalls at the auditions were the only people who didn't have to wear masks too, everyone else had to! I can only assume the people who arrived later this week got the seats in the stalls, it's very strange!

Yeah, the rapper was very popular by all accounts, I guess the youngsters voted for them, not middle aged women like me😆I wish it had gone to the public vote, I think it's a very unfair system when the judges still choose after so many members of the public have voted, I think the final and semi finals should come down to the public votes only!

Louisew123 · 01/06/2022 11:20

We are going to bgt tomw what's the best time to que up and do they give tickets out so you can then go out for the day
What time do you go in for the show have a 9 year old and 12 year old so so hoping it won't be too much waiting. The 9 year old is looking forward to the flashing thing the audience wears on their wrist haha any advise will be appreciated.

Tan3006 · 01/06/2022 12:32

@Louisew123
we are going tomoro too..my boys are 9 & 13 😊

Pinkstar28 · 01/06/2022 12:41

Louisew123 · 01/06/2022 11:20

We are going to bgt tomw what's the best time to que up and do they give tickets out so you can then go out for the day
What time do you go in for the show have a 9 year old and 12 year old so so hoping it won't be too much waiting. The 9 year old is looking forward to the flashing thing the audience wears on their wrist haha any advise will be appreciated.

We got there at 10, a lot of people in front of us, but they started giving wristbands out around 1040 which is when the air started to move, we got our tickets and were free to go by 11. Went back just after 6 didn’t get let in til just before 7. My kids loved the wristband but they were way too big so they just waved them about lol

Louisew123 · 01/06/2022 12:57

Do they keep the wrist bands my girl is asking haha

Original poster
Stopdropnroll · 01/06/2022 13:21

Louisew123 · 01/06/2022 12:57

Do they keep the wrist bands my girl is asking haha

No, you give them back but they'd be a bit useless anyway as you can't turn them on yourself the lighting people do it and cha ge the colours etc so without that it's just a plastic wrist band

OP posts:
summer1971 · 01/06/2022 13:51

We joined the queue at 8.50am and there were about 30 people in front of us. They gave out wristbands at about 10.45 and started giving out tickets about 10 mins later. The people in the priority queue got them first and more and more help turning up so they jumped in front of us to get tickets. We’ve got row BB in stalls. Seats quite central 25-27. Hoping we’ll have a good enough view. We have to be back at 6.15 this eve.

Original poster
Stopdropnroll · 01/06/2022 14:21

summer1971 · 01/06/2022 13:51

We joined the queue at 8.50am and there were about 30 people in front of us. They gave out wristbands at about 10.45 and started giving out tickets about 10 mins later. The people in the priority queue got them first and more and more help turning up so they jumped in front of us to get tickets. We’ve got row BB in stalls. Seats quite central 25-27. Hoping we’ll have a good enough view. We have to be back at 6.15 this eve.

Have a fab time!

OP posts:
Krish3855 · 01/06/2022 14:36

Hey, any chance you could forward the link. It only shows semi final tickets.

Krish3855 · 01/06/2022 14:37

I went at 1:30 and got tickets yesterday

Krish3855 · 01/06/2022 14:41

Hey, so do they give stall tickets to the first people that queue up? Because I would like to be in the stalls one time, so it would be nice to know since I’ve only been in the circle.

Louisew123 · 01/06/2022 14:44

Wow need to head up early then
Have a great time.

Mooma49 · 01/06/2022 15:42

Well just to update we took the chance and arrived at around 3pm with our passports. Queued for around 5 mins and have tickets for tonight!

Tan3006 · 01/06/2022 16:01

@Mooma49
omg that’s amazing ! Well done 😊
what time is your return tonite x

we go tomoro 🤞

Louisew123 · 01/06/2022 16:04

Have a lovely time. We have a fair distance to come and would be a very early start and late evening for all of us. Arriving a little later may work for us. Have a fantastic evening. May take drunks and lunch with us and I assume there won't be much around there to do. Just looking forward to getting in and seeing the show and having good seats.

Mooma49 · 01/06/2022 16:31

They have told us to be back for 6.15/6.30. We have wondered around shops and heading for food. There are pubs, wetherspoons, nandos, kfc etc so plenty of places to grab something to eat.
Thank you! And I hope everyone else manages to get their tickets 🤞

Original poster
Stopdropnroll · 01/06/2022 16:36

There's a little shopping centre and plenty of places to eat round there plus a tesco express if you need any supplies. Tube is handy to if you have time to kill and want to head into London.

OP posts:
summer1971 · 01/06/2022 17:02

Mooma49 · 01/06/2022 15:42

Well just to update we took the chance and arrived at around 3pm with our passports. Queued for around 5 mins and have tickets for tonight!

Brill! What sort of seats do you have?

We’ve been all over the place. Lunch at Willows on the Roof on Oxford St, Canary Wharf for my son to take photos for his GCSE photography, and a round trip on the Emirates cable car at North Greenwich. Now popping to the Shard before heading back to the theatre.