The Isle of Wight’s Sunshine Radio will be teaming up with more than 30 other stations this bank holiday weekend (29th April-1st May) to celebrate the work of hospital broadcasting.
The stations, from across the UK, are joining forces for a 48 hour-long ‘BIG Broadcast’. It will go on-air at 18:00 on Saturday and continue without interruption until 18:00 on Bank Holiday Monday.
Sunshine radio will be contributing a 1-hour live show of 90’s music from 16:00-17:00 on Sunday, hosted by James Harwood and Bob Wells.
A team of presenters from Colne in Lancashire, Harrogate in North Yorkshire, Bishop Auckland in County Durham and Reading in Berkshire have been assembled to keep the entertainment going over the 2 days. All are giving up their time for free.
Anne Lovelock, Station Director of Sunshine Radio said:
“We’re delighted to be involved in The BIG Broadcast. It’s a chance to promote the great work of hospital radio right across the country and to highlight the difference our volunteers are making to patients at St. Mary’s every day of the week.
“Many people don’t realise there’s so much more to hospital radio than playing songs. In fact, what we do directly benefits our patients here on the island, and positively influences health outcomes”.
Richard Smith, lead presenter for the BIG Broadcast, said:
“I’m so pleased Sunshine Radio is joining in. This is the seventh time we’ve produced the BIG Broadcast and this year, more stations than ever are signed up to take the programme.
“We want to create a fun, party atmosphere aimed for patients, staff and listeners to participating stations who are unlucky enough to be hospital or recuperating over the bank holiday weekend”.
The BIG Broadcast is being supported by television broadcasters Lorraine Kelly and Matthew Wright and ‘Neighbours’ actor Ryan Moloney. It is also being made possible because of the generosity of Tesco, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s.
You can listen to Sunshine Radio online at https://www.sunshineradioiow.co.uk/.
