Here I am, back with a full report!
TLDR version: It was Fab-U-Lous!
Full version: We got to the queue to validate our tickets just after 5am. It was so cold! I went to tesco to get a hat & gloves, leaving Lee in the queue. Came back with a hot drink and then Lee did the taco trip. Tickets finally validated at 9:40 (we were 182 & 183 in the queue - someone had started to queue just before 10pm the night before) and we went to thaw out in Costa. We were told to return at 2:15 where we queued again and was let in at 3:00 into the holding marquee where there was a bar, souvenir shop and a photo booth.
They started sending us in to the studio at 4pm in order of when we got our tickets. The first 26 people were seated downstairs beside the main cameras. We were led upstairs to the balcony. We were in the front row above the judges so had a great view on the opposite side of all the celebrities as they took their seats and of Claudia’s lair. Before the show started, Ed Balls, Yvette Cooper and Nicky Morgan came up to view the balcony. (I was spitting distance from Nicky Morgan but managed to restrain myself).
They pre-recorded the group dance twice at 5pm then the celebrity group dance twice at 6pm. During one break from filming (on the way back from a trip to the portaloos) I crossed paths with Stacy Dooley and Joe Sugg as they were off to (I assume) their bar. In total fangirl frenzy I said “Thank you Stacy & Joe! Thank you so much for last year!” Joe said thank you in return and Stacy returned from the doorway she had disappeared to and said thanks and smiled. (I’m easily pleased.) Alex Kingston was placed in the balcony (I absolutely love her) just along from Claudia’s room.
Claudia and Tess are brilliant. Very professional. When running through their lines, they gave us a few points where they wanted us to cheer. Warm up guy was great. Told us to boo at Craig and cheer at all good comments. I liked the way that Tess took the floor manager’s hand as her guided her off the floor or to the next placing. Gorka was very much a gentleman and guided Tess and Claudia up the stairs to the balcony when they needed to be there. It felt very regal.
There was a point where Bruno found a bottle of windolene under his desk while we were on air (during a balcony shot) so really hammed it up until floor manager confiscated it.
I loved all the dances, watching Gorka, Giovanni & Aljaz aping around at the back, my fellow comrades-in-arms who waited in line with us, the fact that I didn’t lose any toes to frostbite. I also got close to Karim as he whizzed past me on the way out and I said well done to him.
It was worth the lack of sleep and the cold.