Drumming weatherman takes on epic 24 hour BBC Children in Need challenge
Drumroll please…
The BBC’s drumming weatherman, Owain Wyn Evans, has accepted a mammoth challenge from BBC Children in Need: to drum, constantly for 24 hours, to raise money for the children’s charity.
Musicians from around the UK will join the BBC Breakfast Drumathon on Friday 12 November to help spur him on, creating a wall of sound from Salford to St Andrews, Swansea to Strabane. Performers in every genre of music from rock, reggae, jazz, funk, punk and pop, to marching bands, body percussionists, steel and African drummers – melody makers everywhere – will join Owain to make some noise.
Starting on BBC Breakfast at 8.35am on Friday 12 November, the 24 hour challenge will also be streamed on BBC iPlayer.
Throughout the day, Owain will be heard across the whole of the BBC on TV, radio and online. He will have drum kits placed around MediaCityUK in Salford, with his main stage area in the BBC Philharmonic Studio, where he’ll be joined by members of the orchestra for special performances.
Ahead of his epic challenge, Owain said:
Owain Wyn EvansI absolutely love drumming, darlings! Over the years it’s helped me so much, it eases my anxiety and brings me so much joy! That’s why I’ve accepted this mammoth challenge. I want to help change the perception of who can be a drummer, and support all of the amazing charities and groups that BBC Children in Need helps. I really hope that together we can raise huge amounts of money for what I think is going to be a monumental challenge. My poor dainty arms!
At 6.55pm on Friday 12 November, there will be a special BBC One TV performance where everyone will come together for Owain’s Big Bang and beat whatever they have, from pots and pans, bin lids, buckets or a cardboard box to the same tune. Owain will be joined by an ensemble of 50 drummers who will lead the country in a rousing performance of the BBC News theme.
If you’ve been inspired by Owain and want to take on a mammoth fundraising challenge for BBC Children in Need of your own, you’ll find loads of ideas and resources in our fundraising pack.
Thanks to the generosity of the British public, BBC Children in Need is currently funding over 2,500 local charities and projects across the UK that are helping children and young people facing a range of disadvantages.
Together, we can all make a difference to young lives, at a time when it is needed more than ever.
