MUMBAI: Chris Evans’ Breakfast Show will come live from Biggin Hill Airport in south east London, the most iconic of Britain’s fighter stations. He will be given access to the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar, which houses and repairs one of the world’s most significant collections of Spitfires and Hurricanes. Chris will also hear from the ‘few’ and the ‘many’ who helped protect the skies of Britain 75 years ago. At the end of the show he will take to the air in a two seat Spitfire and travel down to the White Cliffs of Dover, where he’ll fly over the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust memorial and broadcast live into Ken Bruce’s show.
Chris Evans says,“It’s so important we remember and commemorate the sacrifices made by the men and women during World War II. It will be an honour for me to broadcast this special show from Biggin Hill, and it will be an incredible privilege to fly in what is surely the most iconic plane in British flying history.”
From 12-2pm Jeremy Vine’s Show will also be live from Biggin Hill, where he’ll be discussing the modern day Royal Air Force and the role they play over seven decades on from the Battle of Britain. He will be joined by current RAF personnel for a discussion about how the modern day RAF is ‘securing the skies’ in 2015.
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The day will culminate in a Friday Night Is Music Night special to commemorate the 75th anniversary. The Battle Of Britain At 75 live from Biggin Hill will tell the epic story of the greatest aerial conflict of the Second World War. Radio 2 presenters Dermot O’Leary, Jeremy Vine and BBC News’ Sophie Raworth will be joined by the BBC Concert Orchestra. Rare archive footage from the conflict, modern day RAF personnel, guest singers and a cast of actors will bring those stories to life as we remember the men and women who took part 75 years ago. The concert will be co-produced by the BBC, TBI Media and Snappin’ Turtle Productions.
The Friday Night Is Music Night special will be broadcast live on Radio 2, BBC Red Button and be streamed live – with a specially compiled, exclusive surround sound audio mix – to almost 300 cinemas across the UK as the nation unites to commemorate the 75th anniversary. Tickets are now on sale for the The Battle of Britain At 75 concert live from Biggin Hill.
Radio 2,Controller,Bob Shennan, said, “Radio 2’s day of programming to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain will be a very special and fitting tribute to honour all those who took part, those who lost their lives and those very few veterans still alive today who were there. With the Friday Night is Music Night concert going out on Radio 2, BBC Red Button and cinemas around the country, we hope many people will join together to tune in and watch wherever they are.”
Tickets for the Friday Night Is Music Night show and the cinemas where it will be broadcast are now on sale. Profits from the cinemas and Friday Night Is Music Night concert ticket sales will be donated to three charities – Royal Air Forces Association, The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund and the Battle Of Britain Memorial Trust – with representatives from each joining the audience at the Friday Night Is Music Night concert.
Radio 2’s D-Day commemoration concert in June 2014 – Friday Night Is Music Night at the Royal Albert Hall – recently won seven Golds and the Grand Award for Best Special Event at the New York Festivals World’s Best Radio Programs 2015. The concert was co-produced by the BBC, TBI Media and Snappin’ Turtle Productions – the same team making Radio 2’s Friday Night Is Music Night concert from Biggin Hill.
Further BBC TV and Radio programming to mark the Battle of Britain 75th anniversary will be announced at a later date
