AN arts and culture show and a topical student discussion slot are two of the new evening programmes now on air on BBC Radio Lancashire.

LAnCs, Lancashire’s Arts’n’Culture Show, launched just over a month ago and is presented by Maria Felix Vas along with Blackburn-born, former Coronation Street actor Sushil Chudasama.

The programme focuses on the county’s busy and diverse arts scene.

LAnCs airs each Monday from 7-10pm and has so far profiled a variety of arts organisations in Lancashire such as LeftCoast (Blackpool), Mid-Pennine Arts (Burnley) and Spot-On Rural Touring (Blackburn).

The programme has also featured established famous guests such as Julie Hesmondhalgh, as well as up and coming new stars from Lancashire’s burgeoning amateur scene.

Students are the focus of another new programme now airing on BBC Radio Lancashire. The Common Room, presented by reporters Hussnain Hanif and Alex Worthing, hears from the voices of youth as a different further education or sixth form college in Lancashire is given the opportunity to curate an edition of the two-hour show each week.

Students taking part in The Common Room discuss social and political issues that are relevant to their respective communities. The programme features people from different cultural backgrounds and plays music from a mix of genres.

Some of the subjects discussed in The Common Room to date include the veil and Burkha, homelessness in Rossendale, local art and a boxing champion’s advice on fitness and routine.

John Clayton, managing editor of BBC Radio Lancashire, said: “Thanks to our long-running partnership with Up For Arts, we already have excellent connections within Lancashire’s arts scene and our daytime programmes regularly feature content inspired by the many, varied projects that we have helped develop.

"We are looking to continue to develop partnerships with groups such as Preston’s They Eat Culture and projects like Blackburn’s Bureau Arts Centre and the Burnley Literary Festival, as well as reflecting professional and amateur theatre and music making in the county. 

"It’s my belief that this would also offer the opportunity for the creation of a dedicated podcast – so watch this space.

“It’s still early days for The Common Room programme but we’ve covered a wide-range of topics so far. It’s great to be able to give air time to new, young and diverse voices from across our community.”

BBC Radio Lancashire’s line-up of evening shows is:

Monday 7-10pm: LAnCs

Tuesday 7-10pm: Matchnight Live

Wednesday 7-10pm: Matchnight Live

Thursday 7-8pm: Talking Sport with Dez Desai

Thursday 8-10pm: Lancashire 2018 – Stories from the many and varied Lancashire communities

Friday 8-10pm: The Common Room