Be Somerset Radio

23/03/2026

Dream big, fly high... something fantastic is coming to Yeovil from Friday March 27th to Sunday March 29th 2026, and it's for everyone! Whether you live in the town, the wider community of Somerset, or are just visiting, a brand new arts festival is set to make headlines very soon. The Yeovil Art We...

13/03/2026

How did it get to mid March already? 😮

We've got lots of great conversations to catch you up on!

First though, this is happening next weekend from Friday March 27th - Sunday March 29th.

The Yeovil Art Weekender is going to be big, bold and colourful, with so much for everyone to see and do.

Here's a clip about some of what's going on and to hear Jenna's conversation with artists Jess and Izzie in full, just head here:

https://www.besomerset.com/post/yeovil-art-weekender-celebrating-creativity-community

It's also a really interesting conversation about the power of art and creativity to lift our towns... and our spirits! ✨

06/03/2026

Great to chat with Jason Donovan recently.

Jason and Jenna had a cracking conversation about the big stuff... what it’s really like to entertain, what it was like being at the centre of a “perfect storm’ when his career skyrocketed, and what really matters in life.

Take a listen... and a handful of tickets are left for his Yeovil Show at Westlands Yeovil tomorrow.

He's a chart-topper, a theatre star and yes, a worldwide heartthrob... Jason Donovan certainly knows how to keep people talking, and with a career spanning over 35 years on stage and screen, his energy and unique live performance style has stood the test of time.Now he's back with his Doin’ Fine E...

02/11/2025

Not long now until the next Hatch exhibition begins!

‘Journeys’ is happening from 8th to 23rd November 2025, opening Saturdays and Sundays 11am to 4pm in a secret barn near Langport. As with all Hatch exhibitions, it promises to be exciting and thought-provoking, bringing together the artists diverse voices in a unique and atmospheric setting.

Jenna has joined the collective and she recently caught up with exhibition co-curator, Sebastian Chance, to chat about what we can all expect from Journeys, more about Sebastians own work, and how important it is to create something for everyone to experience.

Here’s a clip (starting with Sebastian chatting about his own Journeys installation), and you can hear the conversation in full here:

https://www.besomerset.com/post/journeys-experience-the-new-hatch-exhibition

To book your place at the Hatch exhibition head here:

https://hatch-art.weebly.com

22/10/2025

It all started with a stubborn supermarket automatic door and a pigeon!

Ardal 'O Hanlon is bringing his stand up show ‘Not Himself’ to Westlands Yeovil tonight and it just goes to show, inspiration can come from anywhere. 😉

Take a listen to this clip and for our full conversation head here:

https://www.besomerset.com/post/ardal-o-hanlon-not-himself

You can also get last tickets for this evening here:

https://www.westlandsyeovil.co.uk/whats-on/comedy/ardal-ohanlon/9806

19/10/2025

Dr. Richard Shepherd is the UK's leading forensic pathologist.

Having carried out over 24,000 autopsies, his career has seen him investigate some of the world’s most high-profile cases, from the Hungerford Massacre to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Jenna caught up with him to discover more about his career, his latest show (which is on its way to Westlands Yeovil on October 25th), and the impact his work has had on him personally.

Here’s a clip and the full chat is on our website now:

https://www.besomerset.com/post/dr-richard-shepherd-unnatural-causes-time-of-death

Dr Richard Shepherd

09/10/2025

We’ve got a great chat for you. Ian’s been catching up with songwriter, guitarist and producer Richard Hawley. Richard’s music is not only truly timeless, but listening to him in conversation has restored our faith!

Richard’s playing a sold out gig at The Grand Pier tomorrow night, but have a listen to him chatting about the 20 year anniversary of his incredible album, Coles Corner, and lots more besides… including the dangers of the waltzers! 😉

Here’s a clip of how the song Coles Corner came about, and to listen to the full conversation just head here:

https://www.besomerset.com/post/richard-hawley-coles-corner-is-20

05/10/2025

Now this is perfect for today… a poem about knitting from Robin Ince! He shared it when chatting with Ian about a digital EP of eclectic poems that’s a sonic companion to Robin’s book Normally Weird and Weirdly Normal.

Robin has teamed up with musician Rachel Taylor-Beales to create the EP, which invites us to renew our imaginations and embrace the wide, weird, and wondrous spectrum of what it means to be human.

You can listen to the chat and find out more about it all, here:

https://www.besomerset.com/post/normally-weird-and-weirdly-normal-robin-ince-and-rachel-taylor-beales

27/09/2025

Planning your weekend? Well, It’s the final weekend of Somerset Open Studios, a chance to head out across the county, visit artists, and chat with them about what they create.

Recently Jenna did just that with Printmaker Jackie Curtis and created some prints from seed heads, skeletal leaves and other things Jackie had foraged for.

It was fascinating and fun seeing the process.

Here’s a clip of what they got up to, and to hear the conversation and printmaking experience in full, just head here:

https://www.besomerset.com/post/somerset-open-studios-getting-to-the-heart-of-the-art

The conversation with Jackie starts at around 14 minutes and 15 seconds in.

Over Somerset Art Weeks so far, these shows have had just over 16,000 listens, so thank you so much to you if you’ve listened to them 💛

Jackie is at Venue 106 in Bawdrip and we're sure she’d love a visit 😊

25/09/2025

Have you heard Jenna's Somerset Open Studios shows yet? They’re packed with great artist conversation.

One of those is with the brilliant TTina Salvidgewho has recreated her studio virtually this Somerset Art Weeks, and taken it to SSomerset Film at The Engine Roomin Bridgwater!

Not only that, but it’s got 3 portals that explore Tina’s memories. It’s fun and fascinating, and one of the the portals takes you somewhere very sci-fi!

Take a listen to this clip - not least for the mention of the “Mash get Smash” spaceman!

The last day to experience Tina’s virtual studio is tomorrow, so take a trip to The Engine Room, put on a VR headset (or just experience it on screen) and have a play!

You can also listen to their full conversation here:

https://lnkd.in/gqyWzud4

Tina’s chat is 37 minutes into the show.

SSomerset Art Works


https://www.besomerset.com/post/somerset-open-studios-getting-to-the-heart-of-the-art

22/09/2025

Episode 2 of ‘The Heart of the Art’, Somerset Art Weeks Open Studios show is out… and it’s another cracker!

You can listen to it here:

https://www.besomerset.com/post/open-studios-heart-of-the-art-show-two

It features:

Bay Tree Willow - Jo Entwhistle talks about her willow practice and Jenna and Jo make a birdhouse together.

Josh White and April Pebble at Rock Farm Collective, who chat about the collective of artists just outside Shepton, as well as their own work with wood and glass. Jenna also tries her hand at some traditional glass painting.

Paul Newman, who chats about curating Somerset Art Works 30 year anniversary exhibition, Lustre, at The Musgrove Gallery at Musgrove Park Hospital.

Georgina Towler, Alison Jacobs Artist Melanie Deegan, and Sue at Albatross Print Studio at East Quay, Watchet who chat about their studios, what you can find there when you visit, and what the event means to them.

Have a great week. The last day of Open Studios is Sunday. Hope you get the chance to get out and experience some fantastic art ❤️