I only very recently discovered that you can apply for free tickets to sit in the audience for various shows (while I was really excited about this discovery, it seems to have common knowledge for everyone else... I am still really excited though!! :-)).
So, I have course applied for a variety of shows and was over the moon when I got the email confirming that I had successfully applied for two tickets for The Cube.
Together with my colleague, I arrived bang on time - and was faced with a massive queue of people - I really hadn't thought the programme was THAT popular (people apparantly started queuing an hour before doors opened...). My little heart sank. So, we joined the queue. Which was entirely static. For about half an hour. Then we could finally see people moving up. But we were still not moving. Hmmmm.
Another 5 minutes and it then transpired that we had been unlucky and that we had queued in vain. I damned myself for having thought just that earlier in the day - self-fulfilling prophecy and all that. Having adapted to the English way of life, we stayed in the queue anyway - as everyone else. Eventually, a guy from the production company explained, that unfortunately, there were no more tickets left, but that he could scan our invitation and we would then receive a priority ticket for another recording of The Cube.
Only problem was, that there was no barcode anywhere on the invitation. We were therefore sent to speak "to the guy with the hood". We trodded off, queuing up again to speak to the man with the list. Mr Hoody was busy though, so his colleague asked how she could help. We explained how we had been sent over to be put on the priority list.
And then the most amazing thing (I also like to refer to it as a proper miracle!!) happened:
Miracle-facilitating-Lady: What's your name?
My Colleague: $%^&* (tries to pronounce my German last name)
MFL: ???
Me: XXXXXXX
MFL: I'll give you a wristband. But we really cannot guarantee that you will get a place.
Me: For tonight???
MFL: Yes, that's what it says on your invitation, innit?! [gives me a look, doubting my sanity]
MC: But, we are just here for the priority tickets.
Me: *shooting her a look to try to silence her*
MFL: ? Ok, here are your wristbands; just stand over here. But as I said, I cannot guarantee you anything.
2 minutes later, we got waved through.
For you to fully appreciate the extent of this miracle, you need to know that there was a group of around at least 20 people who had all been in the queue IN FRONT OF US. Who were staring at us rather incredulously (I also think I dedected some hatred in their eyes), when we walked past them.
To be quite honest, our entrance was the most exciting part of the evening. The recording took about 3 hours and, it was getting a little boring at times, as it always takes some time to set up the Cube for the next challenge. And the warm-up guy was actually getting rather annoying over the course of the night... The Cube looks much smaller than it does on screen and in fact the whole studio is much smaller than it appears on the telly. The contestants get to see their tasks on a relatively small screen, which makes it rather difficult for them to comprehend what they need to do (and results in a lot of questions...).
Phillip Schofield - for those who don't know: the host of the evening and the reason for the majority of women in the audience being there - was very nice though and went around to chat to the audience during the breaks. And even though we sat right at the edge (in the dark - so we won't actually be seen on any of the footage...), he came and shook our hands!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dream come true :-)
Overall, a fantastic experience.
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