A NEW weekly radio show dedicated to carnival has been launched for the first time in the history of the Somerset County Guy Fawkes Carnivals.

Broadcast by Bridgwater-based radio station, Access FM – 104.2FM, the interactive show goes out every Wednesday between 8pm and 9pm, and is hosted by Andrew Bennett, a member of Mendip Vale CC and vice chairman of mid Somerset gangs and features.

The live 60-minute show contains a mixture of carnival music and chat and incorporates news, stories, insights and reports from carnival clubs, committees and supporters from throughout the county.

Each week a special carnival guest is invited into the studio to share their own carnival experiences with the show’s listeners.

Tom Copestake, station development co-ordinator at Access FM said: “We are very excited about this new project as there are no other programmes currently on South West radio which focuses on the Somerset Carnivals – one of Somerset’s biggest attractions.”

Malcolm Cattle, Somerset County Guy Fawkes Carnivals Association (SCGFCA) president, added: “Since I have been involved with carnival there has never been a regular radio show for people to tune into to find out all of the latest carnival news, and I have been in carnival for well over 50 years now. It really is a tremendous idea.

“It is also a fantastic opportunity for all county carnival towns, clubs, walking entries and supporters to promote themselves and their fundraising events.”

The carnival show can be heard every Wednesday between 8pm and 9pm on 104.2FM or at www.accessfm.org, the Access FM app or the TuneIn Radio app available for iOS and Android devices.