The burghers of Norfolk will get their Festival this year, despite all activities being cancelled because of COVID-19.
Comedy duo Hunt & Darton, who were to have broadcast a 24-hour programme as part of the Festival, will now deliver Norfolk & Norwich Festival does Radio Local, a series of one-hour episodes daily throughout the Festival period.
Their shows, online and on Norwich’s Future Radio, will comprise locally sourced material covering, in their own words, the "charmingly mundane to the borderline ridiculous", Twitter-based soap operas, speaking to artists who would otherwise have been taking part at the Festival and offering boredom busters, intergenerational challenges and competitions.
Hunt & Darton said, "we feel privileged to have found a way to carry on making work in this adverse time. We are ridiculously excited to still be able make this show with you all, to bring a bit of silliness into our days, show off what Norfolk & Norwich folk have to offer, share our experiences in this bizarre time and to celebrate the amazing work that we all should have been enjoying throughout the Festival. We feel more than ever the need to keep communities connected and to offer some light relief to people stuck at home. We cannot wait to collaborate with you."
The full line-up for Norfolk and Norwich Festival does Radio Local will be announced shortly together with online initiatives from the Festival.
Norfolk & Norwich Festival presents Radio Local will run 8–24 May daily at 3PM with highlights on BBC Radio Norfolk.