Bristol: Behind The Headlines

Kid Carpet and the Noisy Animals, famous for their wonky and nonsensical theatre shows, have launched their first YouTube channel. Martin Booth heads to Kid Carpet's top secret Easton HQ to find out more. Also in this episode, we hear from Bristol Old Vic artistic director Tom Morris as he announces he will leave the theatre after this season.

Maybe Paints, one of Bristol's brightest new street art talents, talks about his work on this week's episode. We also hear from Sam McKay as Mila Plants prepares to open a new shop, and Emma Butterworth tells us about the community opera she is writing based on the history of Orchard Street.

From the historic Vaulted Chambers Cafe in Castle Park, the latest Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast features actor Joe Sims talking about The Red Lion which opens at Bristol Old Vic on February 3. 

Also on this week's episode, Aisha Ali, the co-founder of Kiota, a collective for Black creatives, talks to Safiya Bashir; and Betty Woolerton meets squash players Mohamed and Marwan El Shorbagy.

As the ramifications from the Colston 4 trial continue to be felt around the world, poet and educator Lawrence Hoo speaks to Bristol24/7 Deputy Editor Ellie Pipe about what should happen next.

Also on this week's episode, Ian Downs and Martin Booth visit Bocabar in Finzels Reach; and Martin speaks to outgoing Bristol Food Union chief executive Aine Morris and Bristol Rovers Women's striker Zoe Fielden-Stewart.

In this special episode of the Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast following the acquittal of the Colston 4, we join  Rhian Graham, Milo Ponsford, Sage Willoughby and Jake Skuse as they speak outside Bristol Crown Court just minutes after the jury's not guilty verdict.

We then head to the post-trial press conference, where Graham is joined by former lord mayor Cleo Lake, Green Party councillor Christine Townsend, lawyer Raj Chada and campaigner Jen Reid.

This week's podcast is a mayoral referendum special, as we ask whether Bristol should keep the position of elected mayor or move to a new committee system of governance? 

In a debate hosted by Bristol24/7 Deputy Editor Ellie Pipe, we hear from businesswoman Jaya Chakrabarti and Labour cabinet member Nicola Beech who want to retain the current mayoral model, and Green councillor Heather Mack and Lib Dem councillor Tim Kent who want to scrap the role of mayor and replace it with committees made up of councillors. The referendum will take place on May 5 2022.

Also in this episode, we visit Eclectic Gift Shop in Hanham and speak to owner Nicola Bartlett, who put out an SOS at the start of December anticipating low sales but has since seen an outpouring of support and is now set to have a record month.

Bristol Bears star Simi Pam is named our Sportsperson of the Year. She speaks to Martin Booth in an episode in which we also visit Charles Wesley's House decorated for Christmas and speak to Hannah Drake and Justin Palmer of Insane Root, a theatre company currently performing Hansel & Gretel in Arnos Vale Cemetery. Downsy meanwhile enjoys a mulled cider in the Good Measure in Redland.

In this week's episode, Manchester-raised and Bristol-based MC and poet Figure of Speech talks us through his eponymous album - an anti-racist album giving a musical voice to his experiences as a Black man in the UK.

Allure Lash Lounge owner Zandile Dube talks to new Bristol24/7 reporter Betty Woolerton, and we also hear from new Scarlet Lantern's Alistair Woods about the new cocktail bar and Kofo Ajala speaks about her special show on Noods Radio.

In this week's episode, Artist Residence co-owner Justin Salisbury explains the journey he has been on to open the new boutique hotel on Portland Square in St Paul's.

Lisa Whitehouse from Interculture talks about what we can all do to be an ally and anti-racist, we speak to Emily and Dan Ross as their bookshop Storysmith reopens in a new shop on North Street, and historian Clive Burlton from Bristol Books reveals some fascinating discoveries.

Henbury's very own TikTok sensation and stand-up comic Abi Clarke is our headline act on this latest episode of the Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast, talking about her rise to social media fame and a new comedy night she is organising at a Clifton pub.

We also hear from Jeffrey Johns, better known as Big Jeff, at his solo art exhibition; Dr Justin Morris, the chief exec of Bristol Zoological Society, explains more about the zoo's plans for their historic Clifton site; and Mottli founder Louis Napoletani tells us about the new app that helps you discover the best places to go in Bristol.