BFBS Daily Dits

Ain’t no party like a BFBS Live Events party! The team threw a series of gigs across British Forces Cyprus to say a big thank you to military families, after a challenging year. BFBS Cyprus Station Manager Ant Ballard joined the celebrations and catches up with Ryan Galpin.

🥳 In this episode: 

Aviators at RAF Akrotiri, soldiers from 4 SCOTS and The Royal Welsh End came together to party!

DJs Rickie & Melvin, Stavros Flatley and cover bands wow crowds at shows across Akrotiri and Nicosia.

Station Commander Group Captain Adam Smolak says thank you to serving personnel and their loved ones.

🎤 Find out more on BFBS Live Events:

bfbs.com/liveevents

⚽ Play the Predictor Saturday

Listen to BFBS Radio’s Saturday Sport show and email predictions to [email protected]

Blandford Garrison has hosted its first TED Talk-style event, bringing speakers together to explore leadership, personal identity and how to become a more effective leader. 

Ryan Galpin catches up with Jason Herbert to hear about the event and the inspiring messages behind it. 

🎙️ In this episode: 

• Find out how the event is helping soldiers develop their leadership skills 

• Hear from motivational speaker Chris Ashford about identity, confidence and life beyond the uniform 

• Discover why leadership is about more than rank, and how everyone has the potential to lead

   

Hear more BFBS Stories 

https://www.bfbs.com/radio/podcasts/bfbs-stories

The LGBTQ+ Defence Awards have brought members of the Armed Forces community and their allies together to celebrate inclusion and recognise those making a difference.  

Ryan Galpin caught up with Alex Harrison to hear about the night. 

🏳️‍🌈 In this episode: 

• Hear about the atmosphere at this year’s awards 

• Find out about some of the winners, including Lance Corporal Liam Cole 

• Discover why representation and inclusion matter across the Armed Forces 

📱See more of the awards 

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Big Salute Day brought the Forces community together for a day of fundraising, challenges and stories from across the world. 

Ryan Galpin catches up with Jess Bracey to look back on the highlights, including an incredible £22,744 raised for military charities. 

💙 In this episode: 

• Look back at Big Salute Day, and the live broadcasts around the world 

• Hear some of the highlights, including 100,000 steps in the Falkland Islands 

• Find out which military charities are benefiting from this year’s fundraising 

💙 Keep the Big Salute going 

Operation Summit 

📻 Listen to SITREP 

How to defend the UK from missiles and drones 

Every year military charities across the UK receive grants from the BFBS Big Salute. One of the beneficiaries are Forward Assist who support veterans across the North East of England. 

Chris Kaye caught up with Lauren Mitchell about how the charity have been using the grant to create opportunities for veterans. 
☕ In this episode: 

• Find out more about Forward Assist and the work they do with veterans 

• Discover how the project will give veterans the chance to gain barista and customer service skills 

• Find out about the truck’s military history, including its connection to the Falklands 

💙 Support Big Salute 

Every penny raised helps military charities make a difference to the Forces community. 

Big Salute 

📱Discover more about Social Media 

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Mark McKenzie from BFBS Scotland has taken on his very own Big Salute challenge, walking all seven hills of Edinburgh to raise money for military charities.

Lauren caught up with Mark to hear how the challenge went.

🏔️ In this episode:

• Find out how Mark came up with the idea to take on the Seven Hills of Edinburgh
• Hear about the team who joined him for the challenge
• Find out why the day became about more than just the fundraising

💙 Support Big Salute

Op Summit

🎮 Here about the talent behind Astarion

The messiah of motion capture and video game voice, Neil Newbon

The cadets from the Royal Irish Regiment have been making the most of their opportunities, from taking part in the Veterans Day Parade to competing as part of their shooting team.  

Lauren spoke to Cherry Casey about what the cadets have been up to 

🎯 In this episode: 

• Meet the E Company cadets sponsored by the Royal Irish Regiment 

• Find out how the shooting team qualified to compete at Bisley 

• Discover how the cadet programme can help young people explore future careers in the military 

📱 Watch the Cadets on Parade 

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The LGBTQ+ Defence Awards take place this Thursday, celebrating role models and allies across the Armed Forces and recognising those helping to create a more inclusive Defence community.  

Danni G joins Lauren to chat about some of this year’s nominees and their stories. 
 

🏳️‍🌈 In this episode: 

• Find out more about the awards and why they’re important 

• Hear how nominees are using their voices to advocate for others and create safe spaces 

• Find out how attitudes have changed across the Armed Forces and the progress still being made 

📻 Want to have your say in BFBS Content? 

Take the BFBS Survey 

With BFBS Big Salute Day just around the corner, Lauren talk to Jess Bracey about all things Operation Summit and the huge fundraising challenges taking place across the Forces community.

🏔️ In this episode:

• Find out what Operation Summit is all about and how you can get involved
• Hear how people across the Forces community are taking on everything from mountain climbs to stair challenges to raise money for military charities
• Get a behind-the-scenes look at what to expect from BFBS Big Salute Day on Thursday 8 October

📻 Want to get involved?

Operation Summit

🎮 The Lobby

The Lobby: Season 2, GG!

BFBS Germany headed to the Netherlands to see teams take on the Mount Everest Challenge, raising money for the Armed Force Para Snowsports Team.

Jess Bracey caught up with Jade Callaway to hear all about it.

🏔️ In this episode:

• Find out how teams tackled the equivalent height of Mount Everest
• Hear how Armed Forces Para Snowsports helps wounded, injured and sick personnel and veterans through winter sports
• Discover how the charity is creating new opportunities and pathways, from newcomers to Paralympic-level competition

🎿 See the challenge

BFBS Germany

📻 Want to get involved in the Big Salute?

Operation Summit

Lauren Mitchell takes Daily Dits on the road and dons a hard hat to join the Army Adventure Training Wing in Germany's Harz Mountains. Swapping the studio for the great outdoors, she’s with soldiers of The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers from Tidworth tackling rock climbing designed to build soldiering skills.

🧗 In this episode:

Wing Sergeant Major Tom Kirby on the wide range of adventurous training opportunities on offer.

Fusiliers’ soldiers challenge themselves on the rock face, developing confidence, resilience, communication and teamwork.

Collaboration and strong bonds between the British Army and their Germany counterparts. 

📻 More stories like this on BFBS Radio

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The Royal Gibraltar Regiment is preparing for a busy year of operational commitments.

Jess Bracey spoke to Gini Carlin about what's ahead for the regiment and the bittersweet final chapter of Lieutenant Colonel John Pitto's time as Commanding Officer. 

☀️ In this episode:

• Find out what’s ahead for the Royal Gibraltar Regiment as its operational tempo increases
• Exercises and Operations across the globe
• Meet Colonel John Pitto as he reflects on his time with the regiment

📺Exclusive interview about The Wargame

A thrilling and timely constructed-documentary series

Hear highlights from The BFBS Pro League Grand Final at the RAF Museum in London.  Lauren Mitchell gets the esports lowdown from Richard Wyeth after the three services and a civilian team battled it out for the trophy. 
 
🎮 In this episode: 
 
A look back at a summer of esports featuring F1 25, League of Legends and Rocket League. 

Hear from the champions! 

What's coming next from the BFBS Pro League? 

📲 Watch The BFBS Pro League Final  

BFBS Pro League on YouTube 

🎉 Win with the BFBS Survey 

BFBS Survey 

Senior Met Officer Bill Shielddods from RAF Leeming has gone from forecasting the weather to appearing in the new World War II drama Pressure.

Chris Kaye spoke to Lauren about how Bill landed him the role.

🎬 In this episode:

• Find out how Bill went from the Met Office to the big screen
• Hear how his experience with hand-drawn weather charts helped him land the role

• Get a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Pressure

📻 Want to see more

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🎮 The Lobby

The Big One: Grand Final Weekend Is Here!

Airtanker has been recognised with a Gold Armed Forces Covenant Award for its commitment to supporting the Armed Forces community.

Gemma-Leigh James told Lauren all about the achievement.

✈️ In this episode:

• Find out about Airtanker and how they support the RAF
• Hear how Airtanker’s sponsored reservist programme brings together civilian and military expertise
• How Airtanker are helping inspire young girls into Aviation

📻 Listen to SITREP

What will replace the main service rifle, the SA80?

The countdown to the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027 is on! As part of the launch, Invictus Foundation and The Education Exchange West Midlands have teamed up to create ‘INSPIRE’ - bringing lessons of resilience and mental fitness to classrooms. Lydia Tester found out more and joins Lauren Mitchell.

🫡In this episode:

The launch saw Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, go back to school, joining former Invictus Games competitors and pupils at a school in Birmingham.

Helen Helliwell, CEO, Invictus Games Birmingham 2027, on West Midlands communities getting ready to welcome 550 competitors from 25 nations.

INSPIRE shares stories of wounded, injured and sick service personnel to teach pupils lessons in resilience and mental fitness.

Plus, how service personnel and veterans can get early access tickets to the Games.

📻Hear more stories on BFBS Radio

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More than 250 sailors from HMS Queen Elizabeth have marched through Edinburgh as the ship's company exercised its Freedom of the City.

Mark McKenzie tells Lauren all about the parade.

🥁 In this episode:

• Hear from HMS Queen Elizabeth’s Commanding Officer, Captain Claire Thompson
• Discover how the ship’s company are balancing celebrations with preparations for their next phase
• Chat of the F-35 flypast! 

📱Check out the parade

BFBS Scotland

🏷️ Fancy winning some shopping vouchers

BFBS Survey

Judo might be an individual sport, but at the UK Armed Forces Judo Championships, teamwork and inter-service spirit are just as important.

George Wedlake headed to HMS Nelson to find out more about the competition and told Lauren all about the day.

🥋 In this episode:

• What makes judo such an intricate and fast-paced sport
• Hear from Royal Marines Commando and former Team GB judoka Chris Sherrington
• Why Judo is a great sport for the Armed Forces

⛰️ Operation Summit

Take part in the big salute

Serving personnel, veterans, families and supporters were brought together to celebrate some of the incredible people and organisations making a difference across the military community at the Armed Forces Community Awards.

Lauren Mitchel spoke to Natasha Renaux who got dressed up for the event, to hear all about the night.

🏆 In this episode

• Natasha takes us behind the scenes at the Armed Forces Community Awards

• Meet Hounds for Heroes, winners of the Animal Partnership Award

• Plus, Natasha shares some of her highlights from the night — including meeting Alfie Bo!

🎶 Watch Alfie Bo

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🎮 Catch up on The Lobby

Stelios Makes Military History!

RAF Benson has given its iconic gate guardian a new lease of life. The Spitfire has been refurbished and was rededicated on the 86th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

Lauren Mitchell chats to BFBS's Jacob Dyer about the special ceremony and the story behind the aircraft.

✈️ In this episode

• Find out what a gate guardian is
• Discover the story of Flight Sergeant William “Bill” Johnson
• Plus hear about the behind the scenes of the Spitfires restoration, including the many hours spent removing old layers of paint

📸 See the Spitfire

BFBS Brize Norton

🎥 Find out about Pressure

Behind the scenes of Pressure