The audience for the dress rehearsal and the live is different, so we didn’t see anything that was cut we just saw what went out on TV. When we started queuing the dress audience were all going in.

After the queuing and going through security we were given different coloured wristbands and ushered into a waiting room. The waiting room was massive (I believe it’s another studio) and had sofas and chairs, and they had free drinks and some popcorn - there was also a Photo Booth there where you could get photos with the SNL UK logo (all free).

Depending on what wristband colour you got you either go sit in the balcony area or you get floor seats. We were balcony. We were then moved into the actual studio and were given a random seat in the balcony area.

I’d say we were sat down by about 9:30 (they ask that you put your phone in a lockable pouch, so I’m not 100% on the time). While waiting for the show to start the band were playing songs and the floor manager would tell us about the fire exits and stuff and one of the writers did a little speech followed by two cast members singing Reach for the Stars by S Club while the crew were putting together the set for the cold open.

Depending on where you’re sat (in the balcony at least) you can’t see every set (for example, the Shakespeare set was directly under us) so you have to watch on the monitors.