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Avatars 'the future' as ABBA show greets millionth customer in London

ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus and fan Josie Felix at the ABBA Arena in London on Monday Photos: Press Association
ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus and fan Josie Felix at the ABBA Arena in London on Monday Photos: Press Association

ABBA star Björn Ulvaeus has said he "could never have dreamt" the group's Voyage show would reach so many people in under a year as he met the millionth customer in London.

Competition winner Josie Felix was treated to a surprise meet-and-greet with Ulvaeus on Monday as the show - which sees digital versions of ABBA's members performing with a 10-piece live band - hit the million mark at the ABBA Arena in just 11 months.

She described the surprise as "quite extraordinary".

Josie Felix, the millionth customer at ABBA Voyage (second left) with sister Emily, father Sunny and mother Jeney as they meet Björn Ulvaeus from ABBA at the ABBA Arena on Monday

Ulvaeus said that although he was initially nervous about the show, he "knew it was working" once he saw it with an audience.

"I could never have dreamt it would be a million before the end of one year," he said.

"That means it's been almost choc-a-block full every night, which is fabulous.

"It's been a long project. I was nervous up until the first preview with an audience. But then when I saw it with an audience, I knew it was working."

"They said there'd be a surprise, but I didn't think it'd be this big"

People with tickets for Monday were encouraged to nominate themselves or someone else to be the millionth customer, with Josie Felix the eventual winner.

She said: "It feels amazing, didn't think it would happen, but it did.

"I'm looking forward to Fernando, Dancing Queen, Voulez-Vous, all of them really.

"They said there'd be a surprise, but I didn't think it'd be this big. This is quite extraordinary."

"Copies of ourselves, avatars, will go on living after we are dead, and that's the way of the future"

Ulvaeus, meanwhile, said he believes the technology that makes the show possible offers a glimpse into the future.

"Having lived with the technology and with the project for over five years, it has kind of become like, 'Well yes, that's how the future looks, that's what's going to happen'," he said.

"Copies of ourselves, avatars, will go on living after we are dead, and that's the way of the future."

Source: Press Association

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