Cinema tickets for the Doctor Who 50th anniversary special screening sold out today soon after they were released at 9am on Friday.
The 75-minute special, The Day Of The Doctor, which features all 11 actors that have played the coveted role, will screen in a one-off showing in cinemas at the same time as the BBC One TV broadcast to mark the 50th anniversary of the TV phenomenon.
Websites crashed and local cinemas sold out of the tickets, leaving many fans disappointed. The British Film Institute (BFI) in London postponed ticket sales. It is understood that the problem at BFI is now resolved, though, and tickets will be available online to BFI members at 9am on Saturday, with non-members being given their chance at 11:30am on Sunday.
Screenings are limited in the UK, with the programme showing in just 216 cinemas across London, Birmingham, Belfast, Dublin, Liverpool, Cardiff and Edinburgh on Saturday 23rd November.
Some fans have raised concerns that the time of the screenings could raise further problems, as many wish to also attend the Doctor Who 50th celebration at the Excel exhibition centre on 23rd November. However, a BBC spokesman has confirmed to that there are screening plans for fans who are attending the convention; an official announcement on the matter is expected next week.
Celebrations for Doctor Who's big birthday will reach a global audience, as screenings are set to take place simultaneously in over 400 cinemas across eight countries.
The exact time of the BBC One broadcast, which will run simultaneously with the cinema screenings, is yet to be confirmed.
