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 A new radio station for Somerset is on the way!
Bin looking for a laugh? Count Binface comes to Komedia Bath!
...that rhymes and it was totally unintentional! Anyway, Friday 13th is lucky for us because the benevolent leader from planet Sigma IX, Count Binface, is bringing his comedy show to Komedia Bath and it's going to be... out of this world! You might have seen the Count competing in the last 3 General Elections, and the London Mayoral elections, and winning the hearts and minds of many a politically-weary earthling.
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Jenna caught up with him this week to find out more about his style of politics, to hear about his 69 with Boris Johnson (oh god), what he said to Rishi Sunk after placing 6th in the constituency of Richmond and Northallerton, why he can't drink cider, and lots more besides!
Don't miss it - just dive in/bin by pressing play! And, tickets for Friday are here. Next General Election, we vote Binface!
Explore RSPB Ham Wall with Carl Bovis
Nature photographer, Carl Bovis, takes incredible photos of our feathered friends in Somerset and beyond. Recently, we headed out to RSPB Ham Wall to chat about Carl's photography, to explore the lanes and hides of the nature reserve, and to see which birds we could spot. Come on the adventure with us by pressing play below... sit back, relax and immerse yourself in the world of Carl's photography, the beautiful birds, and there's even a special amphibian appearance!
The food tour of Somerset is back in September!
Jenna will be setting out once again on her Somerset Food Tour... heading round the county chatting with chefs, producers, growers and creators of fabulous food. We've got some more great conversations planned for you, but as we headed back to Matt's Kitchen in Bruton again recently for a fantastic dinner, it seems the perfect time to share Matt Watson's story here. So, let's go back to a chat with Matt from a couple of years ago, and discover more about the unique restaurant in his home...
Can I have my ball back?
The last few years have certainly been an emotional and physical rollercoaster for comedian Richard Herring. He faced testicular cancer during the pandemic and, (this isn't a plot spoiler because the clue is in the title of his new show), he had one of his balls removed as a result. Richard says one of the things that kept him going was thinking about all the great comedic material he'd have for a show if he got through the experience! Well, thank bleep he did and he brought that show to the Cheese and Grain in Frome as part of the Frome Festival.
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Jenn caught up with Richard to chat more about 'Can I Have My Ball Back?', Richard's experience with cancer, his life in comedy, and a fishy joke cracked by Michael McIntyre! Don't even get us started on jewellery...
More latest highlights - just press play!
Things Don't Break On Their Own
The debut novel of Exmoor-based author, Sarah Easter Collins, is out! Jenna spoke with Sarah on the eve of publication to discover more about 'Things Don't Break On Their Own', more about Sarah's writing process, and more about the twists and turns of long term relationships. There's animal chat as well!
Fancy a game of Fact or Fiction? We've got that for you too. Sit back, relax, and just press play...
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(And thank you to Hannah Boaden for the beautiful piano in this interview. It's from her composition, Skipping With Sprites)
Let's take a narrowboat trip together
How about taking a trip down the Bridgwater and Taunton canal with Jenna? And who better to be our skipper for the journey, than Ryan Chorley who runs the Somerset Boat Centre in North Newton. Ryan chats about life on the canal, what’s happening at the boat centre and loads more besides, including how you can get out on the canal and paddle for a tenner until September! Jenna also has a go at driving Somerset, the pride of the fleet... so jump aboard if you're brave enough (ha!) and let’s head off down the beautiful Somerset waterways for some peace, tranquility, and adventure.
Kiri Pritchard-McClean's funny foster journey
Comedian Kiri Pritchard-McLean's had a busy few years... hosting Live at the Apollo, fronting the Radio 4 panel show Best Medicine, and then there's her podcast about serial killers!
She's also become a foster parent and until now, she hasn’t been able to talk about it on stage. She's only just told the kids in her care that she’s a comedian... and what her real name is! Kiri's tour, Peacock, is all about her foster journey and she's bringing it to the Taunton Brewhouse in September. Here, we chat all about it. Before we do though, there's the little matter of her learning Welsh to find out more about...
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Treasure troves & the Cheddar brooch
The Cheddar brooch was unearthed by a local detectorist and is on display at the Museum of Somerset. Recently it returned 'home' to visit Cheddar village where it previously lay in the ground, untouched for over 1000 years! Court House Retirement Home hosted a surprise visit where residents saw the brooch up close. We were there too, chatting to residents about the brooch and about their own special treasures as part of a new project in conjunction with the South West Heritage Trust, Treasure Troves.You'll be able to listen to all the joy of the conversation right here, very soon. ​
