I need to renew my passport before a trip to Brazil in early April, but I have to travel from the UK to another EU country in 12 days. The earliest fast-track appointment I can get is in 6 days, so the 7-day service would not get my renewed passport back to me in time for the trip within the EU.
As far as I know my current passport is handed in, and cancelled, as part of the renewal application (I may be wrong about this - it's been 10 years since the last time) and as far as I know I cannot use any other documents for travel from the UK to other EU countries. Do I have any other option than paying for the 1-day passport service?