How do you get on BBC Question Time as a Member of the Audience?
The starting point is that you telephone or fill out the online application form. Question Time strives to select an audience, which is "representative". So you fill out the form and what happens next? Well, it is worth taking a look at the odds of being selected. Apparently, some 4000 applications will be received for programmes in the larger cities. Approximately 150 people will be selected. That gives you a 3.75% chance of being selected! Not very good odds you will say! I appeared as an audience member for the London show on 3 May 2012. My application was submitted late night on the prior Monday; i.e. 30 April 2012! Twelve hours later I received a voicemail from Allison Fuller, who is the Audience Producer for the programme, asking that I urgently contact her. Having returned Allison's call she then proceeded to ask me a fair few questions about my political viewpoints, affiliations, and thoughts on contemporary news items. She then asked me what sort of questions I would wish to pose to the panel. One thing I should stress is that it was made clear to me that I was expected to want to ask questions and/or participate in the debate. It seemed to me that the programme is not looking for audience members who are content to just sit there and say nothing. So if that is your intention don't, whatever you do, admit it! After about five minutes chat she told me that I was "in". I was quite pleased, only 14 hours after submitting my application form, I was confirmed on the programme!
What happens next?
An email was then sent confirming the location for that week's recording, arrival time, and security procedures. The email also asks you to submit a question for the panel by return. The question should be short, sharp, and provocative and no more than 30 words (though they prefer less than 20). You are also asked to monitor the news on the day of the programme and submit a different question on the night whilst waiting to enter the studio.
The night itself!
You arrive at the recording location on the night in question between 17:30 and 18:30. Security takes place and you must produce photographic identification. Refreshments are provided. Whilst in the waiting area the news channels are shown on flat screen televisions for any last minute news items, which may give rise to late questions. You submit your second question and then wait. Around 18:30 David Dimbleby appeared, to welcome everyone and give a briefing on what to expect for the evening.
I have to say that Dimbleby was excellent at putting everyone at ease and generating a good atmosphere in the waiting room.
You then enter the studio. There are no allocated seats so it may well be worth adopting a "strategic" location within the waiting area in order to secure a prime seat in the studio itself! I managed to secure front row and centre. Therefore I considered my strategy in that regard a complete success!
Once in the studio the floor manager introduces himself and again gives a briefing on the do's and don'ts for the evening. At this point he asks for volunteers to form a panel. There then follows a mock debate, which is filmed (but not shown on television) to enable the production team to check camera angles, sound levels, and microphone locations. I was selected as a panel member for this mock debate. If you ever join the Question Time audience then I highly recommend trying to get on the panel for this rehearsal. It is an excellent experience, which you can't buy! Now you are not supposed to take photographs in the studio; however, a few audience members did! The photographs found their way to my inbox the next morning (and no doubt a few other inboxes). Here is the panel for the mock debate!
The question for the debate was: -
"Should the Government be responsible for solving childhood obesity?"
Now your blogger (being of "petite" size NOT) found the question ironic; however, a 20 minute lively debate then followed! My stance was that it was down to personal responsibility and finding time in a busy schedule to exercise. I also pointed out that hardly any children walked to school anymore and spent far too much time playing video games and not going outdoors and participating in physical activity. There were lots of contributions from the audience and some very strongly held views!
Finally Allison had appeared on stage and announced the names of the 6 audience members who had been selected to ask the questions! Your blogger was not selected and I must confess to feeling somewhat disappointed at that time. I shouldn't have been! Indeed, if you do get on the programme, my advice would be to hope that you don't get selected as you will then have the chance to make a contribution with much more impact than asking the actual question! Those selected to ask questions are taken aside for a very short briefing.
The recording itself!
Finally after all the rehearsals David Dimbleby and the panel appear. Prior to the recording there is a question put to the panel, which does not go out on television. This is to get the panel and the audience "into the spirit of things". On this occasion the "secret" question was about Tony Blair's decision to hire a public relations adviser to assist with his plans to re-engage in domestic UK politics. There were some lively views from both the panel and the audience! The cameras then started recording. The theme tune came on and Dimbleby introduced the panel and things then proceed as you see them on television. As you will be aware the programme lasts about an hour. The time goes over very quickly during the actual recording. Once the programme was over we had to wait until the production team had verified that the recording had went without any "hitches" and then we were free to leave! I really did not want to have to sit there and do it all again!
Are the questions "planted"?
The short answer is "no". All questions come from the audience and are selected by the production team only minutes before the panel appear. Questions can focus on news items, which break only an hour or so before the recording of the programme. That being said the questions are rather obvious and predictable. Therefore panelists' researchers won't have too many problems anticipating the topics!
Conclusion and final thoughts
My tips are simple, get to the location early, get a good seat, and don't bother participating in the question that does not go out on television! What's the point? Also, try and get on the panel for the mock debate! If you do make a contribution be prepared for Twitter reaction! I mention this in my blog post about "Guardian Reading Lawyer". If your feelings are easily hurt then don't bother speaking! You WILL be abused on Twitter and other online forums regardless of the merits (or not) of the contribution you make. That being said it is an amazing experience and one I recommend any current affairs enthusiast to try and be involved in at least once!
