So, how do they (in the UK) tape a sitcom with a live audience?
Do they (usually) do each scene individually and edit them together or try and get the whole episode from start to finish in one go, picking up any bits that are really pants?
I know there are people here who've been to recordings so can anyone enlighten me?
When I went to see Not Going Out being filmed they filmed each scene seperatly. Once the scene was over it would be checked in the gallery and the director would then let the floor manager know of anything they needed to do again. Quite often they filmed each scene at least twice and sometimes picked up at certain points of the scene.
Any location scenes were filmed prior to the studio filming and then shown to the audience on monitors so the story could be followed by the audience.
Hope that makes sense!
They do each scene individually then edit along with any location filming.
The location film is actually shown [large TV sceen] to the audience in sequence to the rest of the scenes.
So, as the audience, you do actually see it in sequence. Recording takes about three or four hours.
Dan
I've just updated this thread title so it doesn't clash with some of the other threads which are talking about the watching them on TV side of things.
I don't think I can actually add much to the good answers above though, other than to say it sounds like it worth you trying to get to a recording at some point. Tickets are free!
Hmph. They are free but the only thing I'd really love to see is After You've Gone and that is filmed in Teddington or Pinewood studios or somewhere equally unreachable. 
For the whole process of script to screen I'd recommend buying the DVD of Coupling series 4. There's a 40 minute documentary thing which shows you in full.
That series isn't the best as it doesn't include the Geoff character but it's worthwhile for the extras on the disc.
I saw an episode of Coupling being recorded at Teddington from the 4th series. It was the 4th show I had seen there (Shane, Mad About Alice and Carrie & Barry were the others) but it was by far the worst. The whole experience hinges on whether you can see the action and you could only see one set out of four and that was 50 yards from the audience. Also, and very important, is the the guy they get to "compere" between the takes (usually a comedian such as Bobby Bragg) and on this occasion it was Rob Rouse 
This guy is so bad but seems to have graduated from warming up audiences to really bad sitcoms so you won't get him for a while.
The best sitcoms to see are those that include a top class comedian in the cast - Time Gentlemen Please was absolutely hilarious because Al Murray took over from the warm-up on many occasions.
But it's worth going, even once, just to see how the whole thing is put together.
I saw two of Coupling's third series, including the Spider-Man dancing scenes and they were both hilarious episodes.
I've seen After You've Gone and it was okay (except Amanda Abbingden knacking the same line up about 12 times, which got a bit annoying). I had a bad cough then too, and if you listen closely you can hear me trying to cough in between all the laughing.
By far the worst thing I've seen was Home Again with Samantha Janus. That was god-awful. And it dragged and dragged and dragged. And dragged. Most of the audience left well before the (very extended) end. After four and a half hours you're thinking: I'm not laughing and I'm very cold in this warehouse...
Dan
Thanks for all of the comments. I recently bought the Coupling boxed set and have just checked it for extras now. Only seems to have episode 3 out-takes unfortunately. They do give an idea of the process though.
I watched Joking Apart and enjoyed every minute
Quote: Alan C @ May 20 2008, 8:47 PM BSTI saw an episode of Coupling being recorded at Teddington from the 4th series. It was the 4th show I had seen there (Shane, Mad About Alice and Carrie & Barry were the others) but it was by far the worst. The whole experience hinges on whether you can see the action and you could only see one set out of four and that was 50 yards from the audience. Also, and very important, is the the guy they get to "compere" between the takes (usually a comedian such as Bobby Bragg) and on this occasion it was Rob Rouse
The best sitcoms to see are those that include a top class comedian in the cast - Time Gentlemen Please was absolutely hilarious because Al Murray took over from the warm-up on many occasions.
a) What a bad selection of (other three) shows you saw previously!
b) Bobby Bragg makes me want to die. And take everyone with me.
c) Rob Rouse, slightly less so. But still an annoying git.
d) You went to see TGP?! C**T.
Quote: swerytd @ May 21 2008, 12:31 PM BSTBy far the worst thing I've seen was Home Again with Samantha Janus. That was god-awful. And it dragged and dragged and dragged. And dragged. Most of the audience left well before the (very extended) end. After four and a half hours you're thinking: I'm not laughing and I'm very cold in this warehouse...
Dear GOD. That show was awful. Ironically, it wasn't so much the script that was bad, but the direction. Really, really horrible camera angles. Where was it filmed, out of interest?
Also, this thread has absolutely nothing to do with writing that I can see, so moving to British Sitcoms.
Quote: Aaron @ May 21 2008, 1:20 PM BSTa) What a bad selection of (other three) shows you saw previously!
b) Bobby Bragg makes me want to die. And take everyone with me.
c) Rob Rouse, slightly less so. But still an annoying git.
d) You went to see TGP?! C**T.
Ahem,
a) None of them had ever been shown at the time so how would I have known if they were gonna be bad until I saw em!?
b) true
c) you give him too much credit
d) I hate the C word but are you calling me it or Al Murray it and why?
a) All fair enough - but still, what bad luck. Not the greatest selection of shows to end up seeing.
c) I hate his stand up stuff, but found him to be passable in the first series of Grownups.
d) You. For going. Out of jealousy. (Which series?)
(Oh, and it's one of my favourite words! I'll never understand why people don't like it, and object to vehemently.)
Quote: Aaron @ May 21 2008, 1:28 PM BSTd) You. For going. Out of jealousy. (Which series?)
It was the very last episode and it featured David Walliams as well - though I had no idea who he was at the time! We were positioned a few rows back from the bed where Emma Pierson had to film the final scene with Terry. Although the set was quite dark you could see that she did not require any coverage for her top half - brave girl.