U2 will play a small London concert for the BBC on November 3, but the date fans need first is October 29. The deadline is 11.59pm on Thursday. You can request up to one pair through the BBC’s official listing.
This is a chance to attend a recording, with songs from across U2’s catalogue and new material from Carnaval De Luz. BBC Two will show the concert later in November. The audience application, the concert and the television programme therefore have separate places in the calendar. Keep the draw deadline in your diary even if you have already noted the concert date.
Does applying earlier secure a place?
The BBC describes a random draw. Eligible requests enter it after applications close, so this is not a first-come ticket queue. Duplicate applications will be disregarded, according to the listing.
Before filling in the form, agree who will be the named holder. That person needs to attend. The tickets cannot be transferred, so entering for a friend who would go without you would run into the BBC’s admission rules.
What happens if you get tickets?
Successful applicants receive a text message and e-tickets by email. Unsuccessful applicants remain on a waiting list in case tickets are cancelled. Until that notification arrives, you have applied for a place rather than secured one. Booking a non-refundable journey at this point would be a gamble on the draw.
You also won’t know the exact venue in advance: ticket holders receive its central London location on the day of the concert. That leaves the last leg of the journey unresolved. A train into London and the transfer from its arrival station are two separate parts of a travel plan.
Pack the original approved photo ID as well as the e-tickets. The BBC requires ID from guests and checks the applicant’s name against the booking. If you request a pair, plan to arrive together; the guest must accompany the named ticket holder.
Is the broadcast on November 3 too?
The BBC listing says late November for BBC Two, without giving an exact television date. November 3 is the performance date. An audience ticket is not needed to watch that later television programme.
This recording also has a different access route from the announced U2 stadium dates. For the London recording, follow the broadcaster’s draw instructions. The stadium ticket arrangements do not establish eligibility for a place in this audience.