What to expect if you get a ticket to be in Question Time audience

Every week the BBC current affairs panel show Question Time heads to a different part of the country to record the show and the audience is made up of members of the public. It is a relatively easy process to get tickets. On each edition host Fiona Bruce, who has helmed the show since January 2019 following the departure of David Dimbleby, announces where the show will broadcast from the following week. Once that is confirmed you simply have to go to the BBC website to apply for tickets.

But what happens next and what can you expect if you get selected to be part of the studio audience? Firstly you will have to get through an interview from the show's researchers before your ticket is confirmed. Many people who have made it into the audience have clarified they had to answer several questions over the phone to ensure they hadn't lied on their application and also to clarify their political leanings. They will also ask for details of your social media accounts. This is all to ensure they have a good balance of political leanings in the crowd.

Although the show recently faced furore when it was revealed they planted two men who arrived in the country illegally in the audience this is not usual. The majority of shows simply feature random members of the public in the crowd.

If you are granted tickets you will get sent it via email with instructions not to bring a bag or wear badges or anything with a slogan. You will also be asked to forward two questions he would like to submit. The only hospitality beforehand is tea, coffee, water and biscuits and you are not asked to surrender your mobile phone before you enter the studio.

Web designer Andy Clarke penned a blog post on his website about attending the show when it was being broadcast from Chester in May 2024 and revealed the truth about the questions you hear on screen. "They choose six questions, one of which will be used for an unfilmed warm-up, and then four or five more....The politicians on the panel don't know the questions in advance," he penned.

According to Andy the warm up question is used to test the sound equipment at around 7.45pm before they begin recording the show at 8pm and is never shown on air.

Fiona also picks out audience members throughout the show to comment on the discussion. She comes out film promos for the show beforehand and chats to the audience explaining how she will select people. Ted Lasso star Mark Kempner from Cheltenham joined the audience when the show was broadcast from the Gloucestershire town on May 29 last year.

Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk he said the presenter advises the audience members on how they can get selected to speak on screen after raising their hands. "Fiona came out and just had a quiet chat with us. She's lovely and very relaxed. She just said if the mic comes near you, speak up nicely and loudly, because they will pick you up. She also advised If you put your arm up, make sure it goes up nice and high so we can see you," he said.

"Someone asked how she knew who to pick, and she said, 'Well, it's really who's in my eyeline at the time'. So one of the panel members can be answering a question and giving their opinion, and she's looking around to see who's got their hand up," he said.

Once the show begins recording they shoot right through and what you see on screen is what happened int he room with no edits. As for anyone hoping to get some personal face time with the panel members will be sorely disappointed. All attendees have testified they enter just before the recording starts and leave right after before the audience are shunted out.