tv freebie
Comedy is a dish best served free, so find where they make TV shows and get yourself along, says Tom Brett
Lots of television programmes are recorded in London each month and many of them require an audience to provide laughter, applause and a general party atmosphere. Capitalise on this and you’ll be laughing all the way to the bank.
The BBC Television Centre in Shepherd’s Bush, west London (closest tube White City) has a long reputation of inviting audiences for TV and radio recordings. These are usually attended by fans familiar with the broadcast, but are also a great way for visitors to London to catch a glimpse of British TV celebrities. The BBC has a dedicated shows and tours website where visitors can apply for free, last-minute or future tickets.
Websites such as SRO Audiences provide details of upcoming TV shows being recorded and where to find them. The Fountain Studios in Wembley and Teddington Studios in south-west London have a rich broadcasting history and provide a home for some of Britain’s best-loved TV programmes. I was lucky enough to catch the BBC recording of Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle at the Mildmay Club in Newington Green, north London, earlier this year. The tickets were free, a drink was included and we were treated to two hours of wonderfully crafted comic tirade that will be edited down to two half-hour broadcasts. Best of all, I’m likely to appear on TV. Not a bad Tuesday night out.
The moat of the Tower of London contained water until 1843, when it was drained and filled. During World War II, the moat was converted into allotments for growing vegetables.
