Olympic torch OBs for BBC Local Radio

BBC Local Radio will use a special bus with an on-board studio to do live OBs as the Olympic Torch relay progresses around England this summer.

Between May and July the relay will go through every county, with presenters taking to the streets to broadcast.

Each of the 40 local radio stations will have special ‘Olympic Torch Live Breakfast’ programmes live from the bus when the relay comes to their patch. There will also be reporters along the route doing live updates and listeners can visit the bus to meet presenters and share their stories of the relay. During the relay’s trip around the country, there will be evening celebrations featuring a lighting of the cauldron. Each BBC Local Radio station will also attend these and present a special programme from the OB vehicle.

David Holdsworth, Controller of BBC English Regions says: “As the official broadcaster of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, BBC English Regions – through its network of local radio, regional television and online services – will bring audiences every moment of excitement, awe and ceremony as the Olympic Flame journeys across the country. We will also be providing the essential services that our audiences depend on: news bulletins, traffic and travel updates, and weather forecasts, with particular emphasis on how all or any of these will be affected by, or might affect, the plans for the Olympic Torch Relay on any particular day.”

Lisa Reynolds, Editor of BBC English Regions Olympic Torch Relay coverage, says: “Our plans harness the local knowledge and expertise of every one of our presenters, reporters and producers across the BBC English Regions network to tell the story of the Torch Relay’s progress. We will be hearing stories from as many of the Torchbearers as possible and reflecting through our programmes what it means to be part of a community that experiences this once-in-a-lifetime event. Our BBC English Regions Torch Relay Bus will be a major presence at the key moments for the Torch, as it starts its journey each morning and at the evening events that mark the cauldron lighting ceremonies at the overnight stops.”

BBC regional TV teams will also be covering the Olympic Torch Relay’s route for a series of special programmes to air nationally on BBC One.