Filming of Top Gear at Dunsfold
Discussion
Crossflow Kid said:
Unless you're combining it with something else, for a 600 mile trip it's just not worth it.
It was a 10 mile round trip for me. 
Get there early, they overbook to ensure a full audience. Having a ticket does not guarantee entry.
Lots of waiting, lots of standing around, although they should be more efficient by now, I'd have thought.
What was different when I went to a recording of The Grand Tour, was that Clarkson, Hammond and May did not require a single retake.
GT3cs said:
Please report back after you've been. I've a 300 mile drive each way so keen to hear the latest experience .
Thanks
I would guess the last 10 miles or so from the A3 via Guildford will be the worst!Thanks
You can come off at Milford and wriggle through the back roads to Dunsfold to avoid the worst (but not all) traffic.
dci said:
Apart from standing there all day being a part of the audience is there actually anything beneficial to the partakers?
Do you get a go on the circuit? Have a go in some the supercars on display? Meet the stars?
We went last April on a wet miserable day. We waited around for about 3 hours before being bussed (sp?) over to the studio. You're given a quick talk by a studio chap and you basically stand around for the first takes, which is for about 2 hours, you then have a quick break where you're shuffled out of the studio over to another hanger and you're given refreshments while the studios guys are shuffling the cars around. You are all more or less contained behind fencing and then taken back into the studio for the second half of filming. Do you get a go on the circuit? Have a go in some the supercars on display? Meet the stars?
As I remember the presenters hardly interacted with he studio audience and to be honest I wanted to leave half way through the second session but you cannot get out. We were there from 11am until about 8:45 pm. it was a very long day just standing around.
HantsRat said:
Crossflow Kid said:
Unless you're combining it with something else, for a 600 mile trip it's just not worth it.
For someone who's into production and really enjoys behind the scenes stuff it would be worth it. Just because it isn't for you doesn't mean others feel the same. Hardly. Most of that took place outside of the hangar, and any production input in the studio was limited to telling the audience to clap and cheer.
I cast my eye over a couple of the cameras whilst I was there which was sort of interesting but not worth a special journey, and certainly not one of hundreds of miles.
Vocal Minority said:
You are clearly one of natures optimists. I applaud that.
The deal is you get to see filming for free - and if you don't want to, someone else will. You seem to think you are doing the Beeb a favour...
Bum deal. The deal is you get to see filming for free - and if you don't want to, someone else will. You seem to think you are doing the Beeb a favour...
I’m sure if your in to that sort of thing then it’s ok but I’m certain there’s plenty of other ways to see some nice machinery without effectively working for free.
Going on some of the other posters comments it doesn’t exactly sound like a fun filled day.
It’s just not for me. I hope that those who are going and have applied to go enjoy their day on the set
Edited by dci on Monday 19th February 20:52
magic77 said:
By Some luck finaly got hodl of two tickets for recording at dunsfold.
From what I hear though its still a pain to get in as its always over subcribed.
Has anyone recently managed to go as well any tips things to know before going.
thanks
I started a similar post back in Jan when I got tickets. We went down for the filming of the first episode and it was dull. Crap weather didn't help. We waited about 30 mins before the buses picked everyone up run over to the hanger. It makes you realise how little goes on in the studio. The hosts didn't really engage with the audience during gaps in the recording and the guest 'star' was very boring (Rob Brydon, who I like - sorry Rob).From what I hear though its still a pain to get in as its always over subcribed.
Has anyone recently managed to go as well any tips things to know before going.
thanks
Out of interest I applied for tickets a few weeks ago to see how hard they were to come by and within 15 mins I'd been given 2 more for filming this Saturday, so I'm going down with another mate. No longer the year-long wait when Clarkson & co were at the helm.
If you want your face on TV stand by the cars in the studio or - if facing the stage, at the 8 o' clock position as that's where the guest comes in from and you may be lucky enough to be part of the crowd they walk through.
It's a bit of harmless fun if you don't mind the trek down there. Above all else, take a bottle of drink into the studio with you and wear decent shoes – there's a lot of standing and not much chance to walk around and stretch your legs.
dci said:
Vocal Minority said:
You are clearly one of natures optimists. I applaud that.
The deal is you get to see filming for free - and if you don't want to, someone else will. You seem to think you are doing the Beeb a favour...
Bum deal. The deal is you get to see filming for free - and if you don't want to, someone else will. You seem to think you are doing the Beeb a favour...
I’m sure if your in to that sort of thing then it’s ok but I’m certain there’s plenty of other ways to see some nice machinery without effectively working for free.
Going on some of the other posters comments it doesn’t exactly sound like a fun filled day.
It’s just not for me. I hope that those who are going and have applied to go enjoy their day on the set
Edited by dci on Monday 19th February 20:52
Jeez, it’s a tv show; people want to watch it live, being filmed. This is not a difficult concept to grasp.
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