Anyone wanting to go behind the scenes on their favourite BBC Radio 4 programmes has the chance to buy a VIP anorak trip – and it’s all in aid of Children in Need.
The station has started a number of eBay auctions, which are running until Sunday at 9pm (17th November).
Lots up for grabs include a morning with the Today programme team, tea and cakes with Woman’s Hour after watching the show go out live, and being coached to read the Shipping Forecast by one of the station’s continuity announcers. There’s also a ‘Buy It Now’ option where you can pay £50 to get one of the Radio 4 announcers to record your voicemail message for you.
Gwyneth Williams, Controller Radio 4 and 4 Extra, said: “We thought we’d try something different this year at Radio 4 for BBC Children in Need. Favourite presenters and programmes have something special to offer; something unique for listeners to find, join in, share or take away – and all in a good cause. This is your Radio 4, open to you in all its richness in support of Children in Need.”
Woman’s Hour presenter, Dame Jenni Murray added: “Here at Woman’s Hour, we’re delighted to be opening our doors in both Salford and London in support of such a great cause. It’s a great opportunity for some lucky Woman’s Hour fans to come and meet the teams, see how we put the programme together and watch it go out live. Did I mention we’ve got tea and cake?”
Jamie Angus, Editor of Today, said: “This is a prize that involves getting up at 5am to join our team of journalists and presenters as we broadcast the day’s news and current affairs to around seven million people, live on Radio 4. You’ll also have the pleasure of seeing some of the more disturbing early morning sights in Today’s world including John Humphrys’ cereal bowl. Despite that, we anticipate a lot of interest and we look forward to welcoming the winner into the team for the day.”
Here are a selection of the items up for auction:
- The Archers: join the team for a rare behind-the-scenes experience of Britain’s best-known village. Receive a guided tour of The Archers’ Birmingham studios with an opportunity to meet some of the cast and watch an episode being recorded
- Shipping Forecast: Having trouble telling apart South Utsire and German Bight? Radio 4 is offering the chance to be coached by one of the distinctive voices of Radio 4 Continuity in how to read the Shipping Forecast before recording a version to keep
- Test Match Special: Tickets to a UK Test match and a visit to the TMS box to meet some of the commentary team, including Jonathan ‘Aggers’ Agnew and sharing a slice of cake
- Today: An early morning visit to join the morning production meeting, watch Today go out live, have breakfast with some of the presenters and in addition, receive a limited edition Tivoli DAB radio designed by a Today listener last year for BBC Children in Need
- Gardener’s Question Time: The production team are offering three separate experiences to bid for which includes an exclusive VIP trip to the largest live Radio 4 event of the year in 2014, the Summer Garden Party, a trip to Kew gardens with one of the renowned garden experts and a backstage experience and dinner with GQT team
- Ramblings: Gain a behind-the-scenes insight into the making of the programme and join the production team and Clare Balding on a countryside ramble, followed by a pub lunch
- Reith Lectures: This year’s Reith Lectures were delivered by the Turner Prize-winning British artist Grayson Perry. To accompany the lectures, Grayson created an exclusive series of drawings of which 3 specially selected, signed digital prints will be auctioned
- Radio Drama: VIP tickets to the BBC Audio Drama Awards 2014 and the drinks reception with the stars attending the event, held in the BBC Radio Theatre on the 26 January
- The Infinite Monkey Cage: Front-row tickets to a recording at the BBC Radio Theatre, a signed memento of the evening and drinks in the green room after the show with Brian Cox, Robin Ince and the production team
- Saturday Live: The team are offering the chance to enjoy a behind the scenes studio visit to the Sony Award-winning programme and separately, the unique opportunity to win the 2013 Saturday Live guestbook filled with comments and autographs from the programme’s guests
- Woman’s Hour: There are two separate Woman’s Hour experiences, one with Jenni Murray in London and one with Jane Garvey in Salford. Spend a morning with the Woman’s Hour team, watch the show go out live and join the team for tea and one of their legendary cakes
- Mastertapes: An exclusive opportunity for fans of singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, who will be the featured artist on a forthcoming edition of Radio 4’s Mastertapes, to come to the recording of the programme. The winner will be taken on a behind-the-scenes look at BBC’s iconic Maida Vale studios in London, watch the recording and meet Rufus Wainwright and Mastertapes host John Wilson
- Just A Minute: Join the production team for one of the longest-running comedy shows in the world. Watch an edition of JAM being recorded, receive a signed memento of the evening and join host Nicholas Parsons and the other panellists for after-show drinks.
Find out more here.
Posted on Sunday, November 10th, 2013 at 9:42 pm by RadioToday UK