BBC Radio Somerset Supports Somerset Day Campaign

Why is supporting Somerset Day important to BBC Radio Somerset

Somerset Day fits BBC Radio Somerset like a glove.  The history of the station goes way back to 1978 when “Radio Taunton” was created as an emergency service due to heavy snow in the county town.  It then took ten years before “BBC Somerset Sound” was launched, an opt-out station from BBC Radio Bristol, only broadcasting on medium wave (which was often blasted out by a Russian station on the same frequency!).  Fast forward 30 years and the station is thriving, now called “BBC Radio Somerset”, the presenters are now live and local from Taunton from 6am to 10pm every weekday and significant parts of the weekend too.

We caught up Nick Bull, Editor at BBC Radio Somerset to find out why Somerset Day is so important to them: “The radio station’s job is to hold a mirror up to all of the magnificent things going on around the county all year round and Somerset Day plays a big part in that.  In normal times we’d be at numerous events on the day, taking in the sights, sounds and smells, but of course things are still a bit different at the moment during the coronavirus pandemic.  In some ways that makes Somerset Day this year even more important to bind our communities together in difficult and challenging times.

The presenters live and breathe the county just like our audience does.  They are proud to show off everything it has to offer – flying the flag for Somerset if you will!  As a station we cover all sorts of events but Somerset Day has to top them all in terms of showcasing everything that is great about our county.  The presenters love where they live, getting out and about all over the patch and hearing from their listeners.  They’ve had a difficult twelve months just like their listeners have and their job is to share those experiences on the radio.

We chose to become a partner of Somerset Day as we share exactly the same aims, to celebrate and unite the county, to promote what a fantastic place it is to live, work and play!  Somerset Day is a not-for-profit organisation which is there to promote the delights of everything the county has to offer.  I am on the board of directors as a voluntary role to celebrate my roots - I am Taunton born and bred, I was educated in the county and I’m a passionate support of Somerset County Cricket Club!”

This year BBC Radio Somerset will be getting behind the fly the flag for Somerset Day campaign to support Somerset Day and see a sea of yellow and red flags of all shapes and sizes all across our patch!  You can hear BBC Radio Somerset on 95.5 FM, 1566 AM, DAB, Freeview channel 722, on BBC Sounds and via smart speakers.

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