TICKETS for Fatboy Slim’s free concert for emergency service workers were snapped up in seconds.

The gig proved so popular that some front line workers were unable to get one of the 5,000 tickets on Friday night – even though they had set alarms for the minute they went up for grabs.

The DJ, who lives in Hove and whose real name is Norman Cook, arranged the concert at the Brighton Centre for the thousands of NHS, police, fire and ambulance staff working amid the pandemic.

He said the gig on October 28 this year would give them a chance to “let their hair down” and “dance off the cobwebs to rejoice in the end of this emergency”.

The Argus: Fatboy Slim's Brighton NHS gig will take place in October Fatboy Slim's Brighton NHS gig will take place in October

In the scrabble to sign up, some key workers were left disappointed. One hospital worker from Hove told The Argus she could not believe how fast the tickets had disappeared.

She and her friends all set alarms for the moment they went on sale, but they were left empty-handed.

Some wondered how the organisers were making sure only emergency service workers were being allocated tickets. But the gig’s organisers assured fans that they would be carrying out ID checks on the door.

They pointed to the terms and conditions which state tickets are only available to NHS and auxiliary staff, emergency service workers including but not limited to doctors, nurses, support workers, porters, cleaners, ambulance, fire and police services. They are also entitled to a plus one.

The Argus: Fatboy Slim on Brighton NHS gig: 'We will all want to celebrate together'Fatboy Slim on Brighton NHS gig: 'We will all want to celebrate together'

The organisers are advising people to look at the terms and confitions, which state: “Ticket applications must only be made by the NHS or frontline members of staff, who must bring their valid NHS or Primary Care Trust I.D card or staff I.D. Card (original format, no photocopies) to the show, as ticket checks will be in operation.

“All tickets will carry the name of the person who made the booking, and this must match the name that is on the I.D card or admission will be refused.

“The guest of the eligible staff member will need to be present and enter the venue at the same time.”

Norman came up with the idea for the gig after friends who work in the NHS asked him to send a video message to cheer on frontline staff.

He joked that they should all have a “big party” when the coronavirus pandemic passes.

He said: “Everyone has been taking me up on it since I said that, so I thought, ‘why not?’

“By the time life returns to normal, we will all want to celebrate together.

“And I would like to do my bit to reward and thank everyone who has been holding our lives together in these most difficult of times.”

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