The BBC has announced details of its 14 live regional television specials that will follow the Olympic Torch Relay as it travels across the country, starting May 22.
The live half-hour ‘Olympic Torch Live’ programmes will be broadcast regionally on BBC One at 7.00pm, and hosted by a selection local presenters together with a mix of BBC Sport hosts and Olympians, including John Inverdale, Jonathan Edwards, Dame Kelly Holmes, Katharine Merry, Amy Williams and Sharron Davies.
The Olympic Torch Relay route has been planned so that the Flame will come within ten miles of 95% of people in the UK, and the BBC will be providing extensive coverage of the procession as the excitement and anticipation builds towards this summer’s Olympic extravaganza.
Every BBC region will have comprehensive coverage of the Olympic Torch Relay when the flame comes to their patch, including reports and updates on BBC TV news, local radio and online.
BBC Weather updates will show a map of the route that will animate throughout the day, providing a detailed weather forecast for the key points, including the starting point, lunchtime and evening events.
The BBC Weather team will be forecasting for the route 2-3 days ahead giving audiences the chance to plan for the moment the Torch reaches them.
For more details on the Olympic Torch Relay, including continuous LIVE coverage, interactive maps, daily guides, and route planner – visit the BBC’s dedicated Torch Relay website – CLICK HERE
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John Inverdale and Winter Olympics gold medallist Amy Williams present a live programme celebrating the arrival of the Olympic Flame in Bristol.
The Flame will be on day four of its 70-day journey across the UK, after being flown into RNAS Culdrose from Athens on Friday 18 May. Against the backdrop of a staged event at Bristol Harbour, John and Amy will front the live finale of a day that has seen the Flame travel from Taunton via Somerset, Wiltshire and Bath to Bristol.
Programme highlights include: the Flame’s arrival in the historic maritime city centre of Bristol by boat: the passing of the Flame to sailor Blaire Hannan, a reservist for Team GB at the Paralympics who will carry it around the Bristol Amphitheatre and onto a specially-installed stage, lighting a Cauldron to mark the climax of the day’s journey.
Eight thousand miles, 8,000 runners, 70 days and tonight it’s in Bristol.
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The Olympic Torch is making its way through the West Midlands and the BBC will be on hand to bring viewers all the excitement as it arrives in Worcester on its journey to London 2012.
BBC Midlands Today’s Nick Owen and Olympic medallist Katharine Merry will present a live programme from 7pm on Thursday 24 May on BBC One (West Midlands).
During the special programme marking the journey the Torch Relay takes through the streets of the West Midlands, the Olympic Torch will be used to light a cauldron at the home of Worcestershire County Cricket Club.
Katharine, who won bronze in the 400m at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, and Nick, will be meeting some of the people chosen to carry the Olympic flame in Worcester. Thousands of people are expected to join Nick and Katharine to share a moment in history.
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A special hour-long edition of BBC Wales Today will cover the arrival of the Olympic Torch Relay in Wales.
Claire Summers, Jamie Owen and Olympic silver medallist Iwan Thomas are in Cooper’s Field, Cardiff, where a celebratory concert is being held.
Lucy Owen, Sian Lloyd and Tomos Dafydd report live on the torch’s route through the capital, and there are reports on its journey across South East Wales throughout the day.
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Olympic bronze medallist Steve Parry and BBC North West Tonight’s Roger Johnson present a special programme on the Torch Relay from Liverpool’s Pier Head.
They look at the Torch’s progress through the North West, following its route into the Roman city centre of Chester and the evening celebration at Chester Racecourse, The Roodee.
Following an evening celebration in Bolton on 31 May, the Torch heads into Merseyside, travelling to Birkenhead before it is carried back by ferry over the Mersey to the Pier Head.
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Details TBC…
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Details TBC…
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Jonathan Edwards joins BBC Look North’s Carol Malia for a special half-hour programme on the Olympic torch from the Newcastle Quayside.
They reflect on the day’s highlights and follow the Torch’s progress as it is carried down a zip wire from the Tyne Bridge to Baltic Square Gateshead and then back across the Millennium Bridge.
Special guests include Tanni Grey-Thompson, Steve Cram and Allison Curbishley.
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John Inverdale presents a TV special from Hull’s West Park, site of a celebration event where thousands of people will have the chance to see the Olympic Torch.
He reports on the Torch’s arrival in the region, the stories of the local torchbearers and the Olympic hopes of the region’s athletes.
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Christa Ackroyd and former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan follow the progress of the Olympic Torch to the evening celebration in Barker’s Pool in Sheffield City Centre.
They will report on the Torch’s arrival in the region, the stories of the local torchbearers and the hopes of the region’s Olympic athletes.
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Anne Davies and Colin Hazelden will be at Darley Park, Derby, to present a special programme marking the Olympic Torch’s trip through the East Midlands.
More than 10,000 people from across the region are expected to join in an evening of celebration.
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The Olympic Torch is making its way through the east of England, and the BBC will be on hand to bring viewers all the excitement as it arrives in Peterborough on its journey to London 2012.
BBC Look East’s David Whiteley and Olympic medallist Gail Emms will present a live programme from The Embankment in Peterborough from 7pm on Tuesday 3 July on BBC One (East).
During the special programme marking the journey the Olympic Torch takes through the streets of the East of England, there will be coverage as the Torch is carried by steam train on the Nene Valley Railway.
There will also be coverage of the Torch as it passes Burghley House, the ancestral home of Lord Burghley, who won gold at the 1928 Olympic Games and who was portrayed by Nigel Havers in the film Chariots of Fire.
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Olympian Sharron Davies and BBC Spotlight’s Natalie Cornah present a live special from Weymouth beach and Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy as the Olympic Torch Relay arrives in the home of the London 2012 Sailing events.
They will report on the Torch’s arrival in the region, the stories of the local torchbearers and the hopes of the region’s Olympic athletes.
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As the Olympic Torch makes its way through the South, the BBC will be bringing viewers all the excitement as it travels through Bournemouth on its journey to London’s 2012.
BBC South Today’s Sally Taylor and Olympic sprinter Iwan Thomas will present a live programme of the Torch’s journey on Friday 13 July on BBC One (South), live from Bournemouth beach.
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As the Olympic Torch makes its way through the South East, the BBC will be bringing viewers all the excitement as it travels through Dover on its journey to London’s 2012.
BBC South East Today’s Rob Smith and double Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes will present a live programme of the Torch’s journey on Wednesday 18 July 2012 on BBC One (South East), live from the Marine Parade in Dover.
During the special programme marking the Torch Relay journey, Rob and Dame Kelly will bring live coverage of the Torch as it arrives into Dover on board a ship and travels through the town and up to Dover Castle.
Joining them on the programme as a special guest is former Olympic Javelin competitor Steve Backley.
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The BBC is the official broadcaster of the Torch Relay, and will be providing comprehensive coverage on TV, radio and online.
As host nation broadcaster for London 2012, the BBC is broadcasting a wide range of Olympic programming in 2012, including the London 2012 Festival, the Olympic Torch Relay and the London 2012 Olympic Games.
The BBC will have the most extensive coverage of an Olympic Games ever seen by a UK audience, from 27 July to 12 August on television, radio, online and mobile, including live action of every sport from every venue where it’s happening throughout every day on TV and the BBC Sport website.
For all BBC Olympic-related programming, news, general information see the BBC 2012 Media Pack, or for details on all London 2012 coverage click on the ‘London 2012’ tab on this website.
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