David Hockney-mania overloads Royal Academy website According to reports, both options for booking tickets have been struggling since early this morning, meaning that some art-lovers keen to secure a ticket ahead of the opening on Saturday have so far been left disappointed. Three days before The Real Van Gogh: The Artist And His Letters opened, most of the programme of lectures surrounding the exhibition had sold out and there had been a 'heavy' amount of pre-bookings, the Evening Standard reported in 2010. Today, the Royal Academy booking website has been loading extremely slowly with several of the dates in January already sold out. The booking telephone number has been engaged all morning. Admission to the exhibition is being limited to prevent overcrowding and earlier in the month the Royal Academy said booking was "advisable" if visitors wanted to avoid long queues. The exhibition is already being called one of the most ambitious shows in the Royal Academy's history. It will feature over 150 works, including films, by the Yorkshire artist, most of which have been made especially for the exhibition. Hockney, 74, accepted the Order of Merit from the Queen earlier this month. Tickets to the show can also be bought from the Royal Academy ticket desk. The exhibition opens on Saturday January 21 and runs until April 9. See www.royalacademy.org.uk / 08442090051