The Roman Baths is to welcome a choir of 150 school children on Friday 15th November, when it hosts the BBC’s Children in Need broadcast from the West.
Pupils from four local primary schools – Oldfield Park, Southdown, Combe Down and Colerne – will take part in a huge nationwide choir.
Grenville Jones, who will conduct the West children’s choir, said: “Children singing together from across the UK for Pudsey and Children in Need – what could be better? We will all have a special time on November 15 singing at the Roman Baths.”
Points West presenters David Garmston and Alex Lovell will be getting into the Roman spirit with the Baths’ own costumed characters, and there will be guest appearances from some very special TV characters too – arriving in a TARDIS.
Bath Rugby players, who are the Roman Baths Heritage Champions, will be on hand to help with crowd control.
Cllr Ben Stevens (Lib-Dem, Widcombe), Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development, said: “Bath & North East Somerset Council is thrilled that the BBC has asked to use the Roman Baths, at the heart of our World Heritage City, for what is always one of the best nights for family entertainment on British television. We wish them well in raising funds for a truly deserving cause. A lot of careful planning has gone into this event which we hope will show the West at its generous best!”
It is the first time that Southdown School has formed an official choir, and headmistress Sue Adams is thrilled that their debut will be on national television. She said: “It’s a wonderful opportunity for the children to sing as part of a bigger choir with other children, in this very atmospheric venue, which is part of their local heritage, and for such a good cause. It will be a wonderful experience that they will never forget.”
The Roman Baths will be open as normal during the day, but transformed into a spectacular TV set and closed to the public in the evening. Anyone bringing donations for Children in Need can do so via the main entrance.
BBC Radio Bristol and BBC Radio Somerset will be getting people in the mood as The Laura Rawlings show will be broadcasting live from the Roman Baths between 2pm and 4pm on Friday 15th November.
The Council-run Film Office has also been helping the BBC team with the logistical side of their outside broadcast; liaising with various internal and external organisations to ensure that the evening runs as smoothly as possible.
As ever, Bath & North East Somerset Council say they are grateful to local businesses and residents for accommodating productions like this when they choose to film in Bath.
