Riverside TV Studios ran Studio2 full time before the building closed (Revenge of the EggHeads.. Weekend Kitchen... etc) so it's entirely possible they could do that again.
I wonder if it's time to do what they used to do when there was a lack of studios - convert a theatre
A new TV Theatre could easily work for panel shows and chat shows.
We've seen limited run and one-off shows use theatres rather than studios over the last couple of years but think it's tricky for a weekly show.
One thing I've never quite understood about television is why they don't take the opportunity to charge for tickets. Yes, for some shows they have to give them away but you'd think the bigger shows would look to get that additional revenue. I know Strictly charged for their Wembley shows a few years ago, but don't think they charge for Blackpool even though it could raise quite a bit for Children in Need at least. I don't think The X Factor final charges either.
I wonder if it's time to do what they used to do when there was a lack of studios - convert a theatre
A new TV Theatre could easily work for panel shows and chat shows.
We've seen limited run and one-off shows use theatres rather than studios over the last couple of years but think it's tricky for a weekly show.
One thing I've never quite understood about television is why they don't take the opportunity to charge for tickets. Yes, for some shows they have to give them away but you'd think the bigger shows would look to get that additional revenue. I know Strictly charged for their Wembley shows a few years ago, but don't think they charge for Blackpool even though it could raise quite a bit for Children in Need at least. I don't think The X Factor final charges either.
It would be a bit of dangerous game if they started charging for tickets. At the end of the day the audience is basically a prop being used to create atmosphere. When you start charging people they would rightly expect value for money but remember shows are made for television, not the studio audience. There’s a lot of waiting around between takes, watching constant retakes, audience members being moved about for certain shots a lot of stuff you wouldn’t be happy about if you’d paid. You’re often there for several hours longer than you’d expect as well. Also a lot of shows simply lose their magic when you’re in the audience. I’ve been told HIGNFY is a pretty dull show to watch in its live, unedited form for example.
You don’t want to risk anything that could jeopardise seats being filled, it can be a challenge filling some shows as it is. QI you would think would be a guaranteed seat filler but there have been occasions in the past where they’ve been up against a big match and have struggled to even half fill it. Imagine if they were charging for the tickets as well.
I’ve read a few people on here moan about studio records they’ve been to having irritating warm up guys constantly coming on to fill gaps and getting people on their feet and dancing but again it’s entirely because they’re being used as a prop and are being just as produced as everything they’re watching without realising!
Yes, they can be a little tedious, especially new programmes the recordings of which don't rattle along as quickly and efficiently as more established productions. There was an Ant & Dec show on the BBC years ago that some friends went to and I remember them saying that it went on so long that everyone wanted to leave. Unfortunately in that case the audience were in shot on the set so weren't allowed to leave for continuity issues.
I myself have walked out of a recording which went on too long because of lots of wardrobe changes as they recorded segments for more than one episode. Eventually they let us out of TC1 for a comfort break and loads of us walked straight past the loos and out the building (except those of us who were staff who went to the bar)
Panel shows are the ones worth seeing as there aren't any breaks and you see more than is broadcast.
Oddly there are radio shows that charge for tickets - I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue for example, and maybe Just a Minute. The former is recorded at theatres around the country so they need to make the money back to hire them, and they're so in demand they sell out within minutes of going on sale at theatre prices.
Paid for tickets do have the advantage that almost everyone will turn up, hence why when tickets are free they give away more than the studio can hold
You’re often there for several hours longer than you’d expect as well. Also a lot of shows simply lose their magic when you’re in the audience. I’ve been told HIGNFY is a pretty dull show to watch in its live, unedited form for example.
I've been to a few HIGNFY recordings over the years and it's mostly great, although depends on the guest host. My favourite one was Kathy Burke, who swears profusely, apologises, and gets the audience on side so the retakes go smoothly. Ian Hislop tends to deliver much longer monologues than are seen on TV - I'm sure the first round usually takes about half an hour to get through.
Hat Trick recently switched to offering tickets by ballot, presumably to cope with demand.
I went to the first recording of Grownups (the BBC3 Sheridan Smith/Susan Nickson vehicle that wasn't Two Pints at all, definitely not) which went on for ever and ever. SS didn't half fluff her lines. Luckily the up-and-coming warmup was one Jason Manford who kept everything ticking along nicely.
Conversely when I saw the Lottery: Jet Set there were some audience members who were determined to take a loo break despite the show only being about 40 mins long, and after being hushed back to their seat ended up noisily climbing over the barriers at the back while the draw was taking place live on air...
(this was a few weeks before Fathers4Justice-gate so perhaps unsurprising the audience could move about uninhibited!)
Yes you get a feel for how much those shows are 'tightened up' in the edit. The first round in HIGNFY is a very good example, they don't talk over the clips, their comments on them are edited to have the pauses taken out and to fit the clips.