Ricky Gervais: Fans complain as Christchurch tickets sell online

Queuing fans were told the show had sold out online

Fans of Ricky Gervais have been left "angry" after queuing for tickets for his new show that sold out online in minutes.

The award-winning comedian, actor and writer announced he would debut new material at the Regent Centre in Christchurch next week.

Scores queued for tickets at the theatre earlier, only to be told most tickets had been sold online.

Gervais tweeted that it was "annoying". The venue has been asked for a comment.

Probably best known for the hit TV series The Office, Gervais is set to perform at the Dorset venue on Monday and Tuesday.

The work-in-progress show - Ricky Gervais and Friends - will see the star joined on stage by fellow comedians.

Ricky Gervais is performing his latest work-in-progress show

Tickets priced at £22 went on sale at 10:00 BST on Friday. Fans queued from as early as 04:15 BST outside the 500-seat venue.

Former BBC presenter Roger Finn, who was in the queue, said a "huge groan" went up as news filtered down that all the tickets had gone.

"Quick-fingered cyber wizards somehow negotiated the website which crashed regularly all morning," he added.

Fan Ian Woolley said he joined the queue shortly after 09:00.

"There was a lot of angry people. Clearly everyone in the at queue - there was only 200 maximum - they should have all got tickets," he said.

"There are a lot of people of a certain age who haven't got smartphones. When there are people at the counter ready to serve you, I'm surprised they didn't hold a certain amount back for people coming in at the box office."

Gervais later tweeted in reply: "That's annoying. They should have held back a number of tickets for box office only."

The venue previously said it was a "real honour" to be selected for the performances.

The art-deco Regent Centre, a former cinema in Christchurch's High Street, dates back to the 1930s and is now run as a non-profit venue.

Ricky Gervais is also due to perform his new material at London's Leicester Square Theatre and Watford Palace Theatre in Hertfordshire.

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