RADIO and TV personality Simon Parkin will be joiuning BBC Somerset Radio's weekday line-up as the mid-morning presenter from Tuesday, August 29.

Simon is already a key part of the station, currently presenting the Saturday Breakfast Show for the past 12 years, but now he’ll be taking over the mid-morning show every weekday from 9am – noon.

Simon said: “I'm really excited to be joining BBC Somerset full time.

"It's a fantastic radio station that has a great relationship with its listeners and best of all it's in the county that's my home.

"In my time on Saturday Breakfast I've discovered how thoughtful, passionate and entertaining our listeners are and I can't wait to be spending my weekday mornings with them.

"Having lived in Somerset for over 20 years and spent much of that time working all over the country, I'm really pleased that instead of being in the traffic queues on the M5 and the A303, I'll be on the radio telling everyone else how to avoid them.”

BBC Somerset editor Nick Bull said: “Getting Simon on board full-time is fantastic news for BBC Somerset.

"Simon is a smart, skilled and witty broadcaster who just loves being on air entertaining his listeners.

"He throws himself into every project he puts his mind to and his new show will be no different.

"Simon will follow Claire Carter on the Breakfast Show creating a really strong line-up throughout the morning. It’s just as well Simon is used to working in a broom cupboard as we are a small station, but we certainly aim big.

"Listeners to Simon’s new show can expect a lively, upbeat and fun programme.

"It will continue to be a mix of topical debate, interesting conversation, music and entertainment for Somerset."

As well as hearing him on the radio, listeners can expect to see him all over the county when he takes his show on the road and he may well pop up on TV too.