Cabin Pressure breaks BBC ticket records

The last ever episode of Cabin Pressure has broken records for a Radio 4 comedy – thanks to star Benedict Cumberbatch.

An unprecedented 22,854 people applied for tickets to the taping of the 45-minute special – even thought the studio where it has been taped can hold just 200.

It's thought the previous record was around 17,000.

The deadline for applications was 10am today and because of the high demand, the BBC will be holding a random draw for the limited places. And to thwart any touts, a everyone attending the recording on February 23 will have to bring a photo ID.

As well as Sherlock star Cumberbatch, Cabin Pressure stars Stephanie Cole, Roger Allam and writer John Finnemore as the staff of a tiny air company.

Producer David Tyler said that many of those who had applied for tickets had insisted: 'it's not because of Benedict, it's because we love the show.'

The show started in 2008, before Cumberbatch's career went stratospheric, and four series and one Christmas special have so far aired.

It is expected that this final episode will not air until Christmas.

Here's Cumberbatch in a clip from an earlier episode:

Published: 12 Feb 2014