5 live is moving to Hull

We are on our way to Hull later this month for 5 live's own Octoberfest. Back in January, we decided we wanted to stage a big event outside London - a 5 live festival of live shows and off-air events.

Hundreds of hours of planning later, we're putting the finishing touches to a three-day event in Hull from Thursday October 22nd.

First, we had to decide on a venue. Hull has one of those big BBC screens in the heart of the City centre which we quickly realised would be very useful to us. There's plenty of sporting passion in the city with its Premier League club, impressive new stadium, and 2 top-tier rugby league sides.

What swung it for us, though, was the fact that it's place that national radio and TV has rarely been to for an event on this scale.

Our ambition was to 'take over' part of a city centre, so the first calls were to Hull City Council to see if we would be welcome invaders. They have been very supportive since the first phone call which is why from October 22nd we will be broadcasting nine live shows from the City, together with a major live local news debate on BBC Radio Humberside, and a series of off-air events including a chance to meet the 5 live football commentators, and an opportunity to sit in the famous black chair for a Mastermind audition.

Nicky Campbell kicks it off on Thursday's breakfast show as he explores life behind the scenes at Hull City Football Club. Other live shows include a special debate about London 2012 chaired by Peter Allen with special guest Lord Coe, Kermode and Mayo's film review live from a big cinema in Hull. And Colin Murray hosts his Friday night sports preview show and Fighting Talk from our main venue inside the Ferens Art Gallery.

On Thursday and Friday the giant 5 live igloos that we're taking with us will be open to the public and groups of school children will be visiting. This is the kind of thing they'll be playing with:

• Sports Commentary - a member of 5 live's commentary team will be on hand to demonstrate how to commentate on big sporting events. Visitors can pick a highlight from different sports, hear how the professional does it and then try themselves - taking away a DVD of their efforts.
• The Banter Booth - Sound-off on the story of the day giving your views on a current issue - a selection will be played on 5 live's Octoberfest web site and on the BBC Big Screen in Hull.
• Online Star - visitors can become the star of a mock-up of the 5 live website; inserting their photograph and caption, the results will be printed and laminated to take away.
• CBBC's Newsround - budding Newsreaders will be able to read the news and see their performance on television as the star of the iconic children's programme.
• Cricket Slogger - based outside the igloo, the interactive cricket game is linked up to the BBC Big screen, participants face a virtual fast bowler to see if they can hit runs for fun.

Richard Bacon will be in Hull to present his Thursday night show from the University, Tim Lovejoy has also been signed up to join Colin Murray from 9-10pm on the Friday night.

Guests for Simon Mayo's two shows from Hull include local playwright John Godber and local band Horseguards Parade on Thursday, and former Olympic swimmer Steve Parry and singer songwriter Mitch Benn on Friday.

Our aim is to give the people of Hull a special set of events to remember, but I would like to think all of our on-air shows will work perfectly well for listeners who've never been anywhere near the Humber Bridge (one of the longest single span suspension bridges in the world before you ask!)

Jonathan Wall is Commissioning Editor for BBC Radio 5 live

• The 5 live Octoberfest web site has all the details of the weekend's events and you can book tickets for the recordings taking place in Hull - all of which are free. But hurry. They're going fast.
• All of the public activities listed above are open to the public between 1000 and 1700 on Thursday and Friday.