THE GRAHAM NORTON SHOW: WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE IN THE STUDIO AUDIENCE

By Georgia Chapman | @georgia_chapman99 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

There are a fairly few famous sofas out there in television history. The brown sofa from The Simpsons, the cream cut-in-half pivot sofa from Friends and the delectable red sofa from The Graham Norton Show. 

Now, no one does late-night chat shows like the UK and Ireland. From Robert De Niro to Lady Gaga, Judi Dench to Greg Davies, Madonna to Helen Mirren, stars have shared stories, drank wine (and flies – sorry Chris O’Dowd) and flipped chairs together at Graham Norton’s. And you can be in the room where it happens. 

HOW DO YOU GET TICKETS?

Head to the SRO Audience website and select which audience you want to be a part of. They have the full suite of TV audiences for you to take part in. Then add the dates you are available, the amount you need and the names of those joining. Be aware, tickets are nontransferable so you can’t bring just anyone, it has to be those named. Once you have filled in the form they will send you an email if you have been selected for a specific date, don’t go if you haven’t!

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GET THERE?

So, what I didn’t realise is that your online ticket doesn’t fully guarantee you a seat. It depends on how many seats there are that day. Although I got there 30 minutes before, it was definitely touch and go as to whether I would get in. I was actually one of the last to be let in and it really helped that I was on my own.

When you arrive you will be signed in and given a coloured wrist band with a number on it, then join the queue, wait for your bags to be checked and walk through a metal detector. Usual for a high-security setting. Then into another queuing area, hoping, praying and manifesting you get in.

YOU DIDN’T GET IN!

Oh man. Nothing worse than the rejection of a tv studio gaffer. But have no fear, they will give you priority tickets for next week so you absolutely will get in then. Now turn around and have a comforting Five Guys at Westfield White City to ease the pain.

YOU GOT IN!

Without giving away all the fun, being an audience member is an absolute ball. It’s so exciting seeing your favourite stars sharing intimate details of their lives, having a giggle and interacting with celebs who have no idea who they are, while pretending like they do. While I was there, the lineup was Ant and Dec, Claire Foy, Joe Keery and Tinie Tempah. Talk about a lineup. 

When everyone is sitting down, they pretty much start filming straight away and don’t stop until the literal end when all the stars have left, and Graham has completed his trailer filming. This is about an hour and 50 minutes in total, so can be quite nerve-wracking if you have a small bladder. There are multiple stewards standing facing the audience for the full show, so if you did need assistance, you would be able to leave safely and with minimal disruption.

One of my favourite parts of being an audience member is seeing the behind the scenes production. Things need refilming, the clapping wasn’t loud enough, and the credits rolled too early. We even got to see Tinie Tempah’s full set twice. I’m just a girl who loves tv.

WOULD YOU DO IT AGAIN?

Absolutely. 

It was a fun, free experience in London. It’s unique, interesting and fab for a midweek adventure. It will also make your colleagues very jealous the next morning when they ask how was your evening?

WEBSITE

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Photo Credit: BBC/So Television/PA Media/Ian West

Shows take place: on Thursdays until 19th Feb 2026
Location: Television Centre, White City, West London W12 7FA