THEY turned out in their hundreds in an effort to get a ticket.Just 48 hours after The Journal had announced details of comedy sensation Michael McIntyre's appearance at Lowestoft's Marina Theatre, in July, the show subsequently sold out in record time on Sunday.

THEY turned out in their hundreds in an effort to get a ticket.

Just 48 hours after The Journal had announced details of comedy sensation Michael McIntyre's appearance at Lowestoft's Marina Theatre, in July, the show subsequently sold out in record time on Sunday.

People queued for hours, with the first arriving at 6am, as the clamour for a seat to see the comedy sensation of 2009 reached fever pitch. And as the queue extended from the Marina into the town centre, the waiting was certainly worthwhile for fervent fans.

On Friday, The Journal revealed that the theatre would only be selling tickets in person from the box office, with all 700 seats being made available on a first-come first-served basis.

And taking pride of place as first in the queue were the Bruce family from Lowestoft.

Mum Kay said: 'It has been worth the wait. As a family we think Michael McIntyre is absolutely wonderful. His visual observations are terrific and my son is a huge fan.'

A delighted theatre manager, Martin Halliday, said: 'Comedy plays a major part in our forthcoming season and we did think it would sell fast. At one stage the queue for seats reached down the Marina road and into the main shopping street as far as Chadds.'

The London-born comic has risen to fame since 2003, his first DVD, Live and Laughing, becoming the fastest selling debut stand-up DVD ever.

The Journal can today also exclusively reveal that the Marina is set to host a number of other comedy events. These include Stephen K Amos, in November, and a September date with Dave Gorman along with more traditional comedy from Pam Ayres, Ricky Tomlinson and Joe Pasquale. Entertainers will also include Jim Davidson and Australian Kevin 'Bloody' Wilson and the return of the Best of British Variety Show format including Cannon and Ball, Tom O'Connor, Faith Brown, Norman Collier and Roger De Courcey and Nookie Bear.