BBC Radio Bristol

BBC Radio Bristol is the BBC’s local station for Bristol, Bath and the surrounding areas. It broadcasts from studios at Broadcasting House in the city centre on FM, DAB, digital TV and online. The Mendip transmitter once served a wide area but now focuses on Somerset, leaving Bristol to receive its own dedicated service. The station reaches listeners across Bristol and Bath on FM frequencies and streams through BBC Sounds. Its AM transmitter at Mangotsfield closed in 2016 after decades of service. The station has a weekly audience of 88,000 listeners according to RAJAR figures. It began in the 1970s with voices like Michael Buerk and Kate Adie among its first presenters. Comedian Chris Morris once hosted a weekend show there before his dismissal. Veteran journalist Roger Bennett led the breakfast programme for nearly three decades. Other notable names who started at Radio Bristol include Susanna Reid and Jenni Murray. Weekday programmes air from early morning until mid-afternoon, with regional shows in the evenings and weekends. The late-night slot comes from national teams in Manchester or London. The station shares some content with BBC Radio Somerset but keeps its focus on Bristol and Bath. Broadcasting House also hosts the BBC’s Natural History Unit, linking radio and wildlife programmes in one place.