Residents' tickets selling out for BBC Proms in the Park in Salford

This is an archived news story from July 2010

Residents are being urged to act fast to take advantage of discounted tickets for BBC Proms in the Park in Salford.

Salford City Council's residents' ticket offer for the event on 11 September has already sold out in Swinton, Eccles and Claremont, and Weaste.

Residents in these areas can join a waiting list for surplus tickets allocated to other areas and need to ring the ticket agent on 0844 815 7131 to get on the waiting list.

The last date for residents in other areas to buy special priced tickets at £13.50 each is 31 July.

After this, tickets will be charged at the full price rate of £20 per ticket.

Last week musicals star John Barrowman was announced as the headline act for the BBC Proms in the Park in Salford at Buile Hill Park.

He will join Salford's own orchestra the BBC Philharmonic on stage for the spectacular nationwide Last Night of the Proms celebrations.

Tickets can be booked online at Visit Salford or by phone on 0844 815 7131.

All prices are inclusive of postage and booking fees. Discounted tickets are available on a first come, first served basis, with a maximum allowance of six per household.

A total of 500 have been allocated to the eight community committee areas.

Where a postcode area is oversubscribed residents will be invited to join a waiting list.

Any unsold tickets in undersubscribed areas will be pooled and a ballot will be held on Wednesday 4 August to allocate tickets on the waiting list.

John Barrowman is known the world over as Captain Jack in Torchwood and Doctor Who.

He has most recently been guesting as a villain in the hit US TV series Desperate Housewives.

He started his career as a leading man in West End musicals, starring alongside Elaine Page in Anything Goes, and has gone on to further success in productions ranging from Chicago, the Phantom of the Opera and Miss Saigon to Love's Labours Lost, Aladdin and A Few Good Men.

Leader of Salford City Council, Cllr John Merry, said: “It's fantastic that the people of Salford have thrown their support so wholeheartedly behind BBC Proms in the Park in Salford again this year by rushing to buy tickets.

“But, anyone still wishing to take advantage of our special offer for residents needs to hurry before it ends on 31 July.”

BBC Proms in the Park in Salford is a highlight of the city’s Events to Shout About programme and last year pulled in crowds of more than 8,000.

The programme aims to build on the city’s growing reputation as a world-class visitor destination.

The concert is part of the BBC’s spectacular Last Night of the Proms celebrations, when venues across the UK are invited to host their own Last Night party, building up to a live BBC Big Screen link to the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Excerpts of all the Last Night of the Proms celebrations are broadcast on BBC Radio and Television, with digital viewers also able to watch all the action live from their local park via the red button on their TV remote control.

The news that the event will once again be in Salford comes as the BBC Philharmonic prepares to move to its new home at MediaCityUK at Salford Quays next year, joining the rest of the BBC North and the organisation's new regional hub.

Concert goers are encouraged to bring picnics, flags and all the family for a truly unforgettable night of world class music making with the BBC Philharmonic.

The full programme for the night along with the support acts is yet to be announced.

Full listings of BBC Proms.