Take That fans crash ticket sites

29 October 2010 Last updated at 08:27 ET

Take That fans have complained after facing major problems buying tickets to see Robbie Williams tour with the group for the first time in 16 years.

"Unprecedented demand" overwhelmed official ticket agencies, meaning many fans were to unable to access their websites or get through on the phone.

"Ticket buying is a nightmare!" one fan named Louise wrote to the BBC.

"You would think there would be something in place to prevent the nightmare of crashing sites."

The websites of official agencies including Ticketmaster, See Tickets, Ticketline and The Ticket Factory all buckled under the strain as the tickets went on sale at 0900 BST.

Ticketmaster said the demand was at least double that seen when tickets for Michael Jackson's planned comeback concerts at the O2 arena in London went on sale last spring.

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"Start Quote

It is madness in this day and age that the ticket companies cannot gear up for days like today"

End Quote Iggy, Take That fan

Hundreds of fans have also been queuing at venue box offices, while BT said the national phone network had received between three and four times the normal number of calls.

A Take That spokesperson urged fans to be patient.

"Massive demand this morning has caused phone lines and websites to jam as ticket agents have struggled to cope with the number of people trying to buy Take That tickets," a statement from the band said.

"However all ticket agents are confident they will be able to process all enquiries so are asking fans to keep trying."

The group have announced dates in Sunderland, Manchester, Cardiff, Dublin, Glasgow, Birmingham and London in May, June and July. They will also take the show across Europe.

Meanwhile, hundreds of tickets appeared on eBay and other secondary websites at inflated prices.

Police have warned fans not to buy from unofficial agencies, whom they said may not fulfil orders and may use personal details in identity theft.

Nik from Ipswich, another fan who contacted the BBC, said: "It is very frustrating as you don't know if all the tickets have gone or not.

"I don't really understand why the sites can't have more bandwidth or servers at times like this."

Iggy in Barrowford, Lancashire, said: "It is madness in this day and age that the ticket companies cannot gear up for days like today.

"As for the tickets already appearing on resale sites, how is this fair to the genuine fans?"

Another fan, Lucy, in Cardiff said: "I have been using two phones and a computer.

"Really annoyed that at just gone nine this morning there are people selling bundles of tickets on eBay for three times more that the ticket cost, sometimes more than that."

Problems 'addressed'

The official agencies are Gigs and Tours, The Ticket Factory, Ticketline and Ticketmaster.

Gigs In Scotland is selling tickets for Hampden Park in Glasgow, Event Travel is offering hotel packages and Mark Butler is selling VIP tickets.

A Ticketmaster statement said it had "addressed" the problems.

An earlier message from the company said: "Due to totally unprecedented demand all ticket agents across the UK, including Ticketmaster, are struggling to cope with the sheer volume of people logging on to try and buy Take That tickets."

A statement from The Ticket Factory said it had been "the busiest release that we have ever experienced" but that many customers had got through, exceeding the company's previous sales record by more than 50%.

The band's last UK tour - without Williams - was seen by a record-breaking one million people in 2009.

Williams rejoined the group this summer. Their new album, Progress, will be released next month.

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Scottish actor Gerard Kelly dies

29 October 2010 Last updated at 07:20 ET

Actor Gerard Kelly has died at the age of 51 after suffering a brain aneurysm earlier this week.

Kelly died in intensive care on Thursday evening after collapsing at his home in London on Tuesday.

He came to fame in comedy City Lights and appeared in EastEnders and Brookside as well as other TV and film parts, most recently in Extras.

He also regularly starred in pantomime and was due to appear in The Rocky Horror Show in Glasgow next month.

His family and closest friends were with him when he died at West Middlesex University Hospital. A spokesman said he had died peacefully after a sudden illness.

Kelly was born in Glasgow in 1959 and appeared in a string of television roles which included Juliet Bravo, Rab C Nesbitt, Scotch and Wry and Hamish Macbeth along with his villainous portrayal of Callum Finnegan in Brookside and hardman Jimmy in Eastenders.

Last year, he celebrated his 20th year in pantomime at Glasgow's Kings Theatre.

On the big screen, he played an angry priest in the Ken Loach film Ae Fond Kiss.

Kelly remains best known in Scotland for his starring role as hapless would-be author Willie Melvin in City Lights, but more recently he appeared in the Ricky Gervais comedy Extras as Bunny.

A statement issued by his family said: "Gerard will be deeply missed by his friends and family and indeed his huge fan base across his beloved Scotland and further afield.

"He was a private and gentle man and his family and friends would appreciate privacy during this sad and difficult time."

Comedian and actress Elaine C Smith said she "greatly admired" Kelly, who she had known for more than 25 years.

"He was a warm, kind, funny human being. We had lots of similar views on politics and the world," she said.

"One of my fondest memories is of me dressed as a fairy and Gerard as Wishy Washy as we stood discussing the situation in Palestine.

"We worked together on City Lights and in numerous pantos, and I remember being so impressed when I first saw him act in the award-winning drama Donal and Sally.

"Gerard starred in this drama about two teenagers with special needs falling in love and I knew then he had amazing talent.

"He will be sadly missed by so many people and my heart goes out to all his friends and family."

Actor and writer Andy Gray, who played Chancer in City Lights, said: "I was a friend and colleague of Gerard's for 30 years and we grew up in this business together.

"We were great friends and I will miss the fun we used to have. We shared great chats and many laughs over the years and I have lost someone who I greatly admired and respected.

"He will be very sadly missed."

A private service is to be held for family and closest friends and details of a memorial service are expected to be announced later.

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Monster role for Sherlock actor

29 October 2010 Last updated at 08:40 ET

Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch is to star opposite Jonny Lee Miller as Doctor Frankenstein in a new London stage play directed by Danny Boyle.

The actors will alternate roles as the mad scientist and his monstrous creation in the National Theatre production, starting in February.

Miller is best known for playing Sick Boy in Oscar winner Boyle's 1996 film Trainspotting.

Cumberbatch is currently shooting the film adaptation of War Horse.

The movie is being directed by Steven Spielberg and is due out in 2011.

The new play has been adapted by Nick Dear from Mary Shelley's Gothic horror story, which was first published in 1818.

Boyle's latest film 127 Hours closed the London Film Festival on Thursday evening.

The maker of Slumdog Millionaire was presented with a BFI fellowship at the gala.

Miller was recently seen in the BBC adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma, while Cumberbatch is due to return in the modern day re-telling of famous detective Sherlock Holmes.

The first three stories proved to be a ratings hit for BBC One.

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