Sedgemoor fm welcomed guests to the Mercure Bridgwater Hotel on Thursday evening for the premiere of three new episodes of its community-radio mockumentary, The Studio.
While most premieres might opt for a red carpet, Sedgemoor fm, never known for doing things conventionally, gave its guests a warmer welcome with a blue carpet in the station’s distinctive brand colour.
Cast, crew, family, friends, members of the local media and businesses involved in the series gathered for the event, hosted by Sedgemoor fm Managing Director Dave Englefield.
The evening included stories from the cast and production team, followed by the first public screenings of all three episodes.
A comedy inspired by community radio
The Studio is a mockumentary featuring Sedgemoor fm presenters, team members and local businesses playing exaggerated versions of themselves.
The situations are fictional, although the characters, local references and unpredictability of life inside a community radio station are often very familiar.
The new episodes follow the team as it deals with Bridgwater’s traffic and a blocked station toilet, investigates a questionable complaint from the regulator and attempts to teach its presenters about radio advertising, with limited success.
Explaining why Sedgemoor fm created the series, Marketing Director and writer Neil Fellowes said, “If we’re going to make fools of ourselves, we might as well do it properly. But the overall idea is to show what we go through as in order to deliver an excellent broadcasting to the area.”
Neil wrote the three episodes, with Bridgwater-born Toby Lee producing the series and Dylan McPherson handling the camerawork.
Toby first worked with Sedgemoor fm in 2024 before leaving Bridgwater to study Film and Media Production at Falmouth University. He later approached the station about returning to create more episodes, bringing the experience and confidence he had developed through his studies.
Toby Lee said, “I wanted to work with Sedgemoor fm again. I felt a couple years later with more experienced in my craft I can bring something more fresh to the table for further new episodes and getting the space to grow as a director working with Neil and Dave has been an opportunity I could not have anywhere else.”
Professional editor Andey Fellowes brought the footage together and created additional music for the series, while photographer Indy Pitman documented the production behind the scenes.
Meanwhile, Sedgemoor fm’s breakfast show host, Mark Painter joined the cast. He said, “I wanted to get involved because the original series looked like a lot of fun and I thought that if the other members of the team can do – so can I!”
Local businesses join the story
The series also features familiar local businesses, including West Country Drainage Services.
Owner Jody Jeanes appears in an episode built around two of Bridgwater’s most pressing forms of flow: traffic flow outside the station and drainage flow inside it.
West Country Drainage Services already sponsors Sedgemoor fm’s traffic and travel information, making the company the natural choice when the fictional station requires help with a very different kind of blockage.
The new episodes also feature references to Byron Wynn, SouthWest Trade Frames and the Canteen at Junction 24, whose memorable advertising has clearly made an impression on the Sedgemoor fm presenters.
Creating opportunities for young people
The production reflects a wider part of Sedgemoor fm’s role in Bridgwater: giving local people opportunities to develop their skills, confidence and experience.
Alongside Toby and Dylan’s work behind the camera, the series features Aerin, who originally joined the station on work placement experience from UCS Bridgwater. The experience helped her develop personally and professionally, and she now works with local photographer Timeless Images.
Dave Englefield said, “We’ve thoroughly enjoyed making The Studio, but the most rewarding part has been seeing young people flourish through their involvement with Sedgemoor fm.
“Aerin, Toby and Dylan all came to us at different stages, built their skills and confidence, and have taken that experience forward into their futures. Creating opportunities like those is an important part of what community radio should be about.”
More than a radio station
Sedgemoor fm provides Bridgwater with local news, information, entertainment and a platform for voices that might otherwise go unheard.
Its work extends well beyond the studio. The station supports community events, champions independent organisations through its Think Local First campaign and helps tackle food poverty through its annual Tonne of Tins appeal.
Its presenters and reporters also provide extensive coverage of local sport, giving teams, players and supporters a level of attention rarely available through larger broadcasters.
Through work experience, volunteering and creative projects such as The Studio, Sedgemoor fm also gives young people opportunities to build practical skills, grow in confidence and take their first steps towards future careers.
Englefield added, “Community radio should reflect the place it serves. That means covering local sport, supporting events, promoting local businesses and giving people opportunities, but it also means showing some personality and being willing to have a little fun.
“The Studio brings all of those things together. It celebrates the people around Sedgemoor fm while acknowledging that, occasionally, what happens behind the microphones is funnier than anything we could invent.”
All three new episodes of The Studio are available to watch now on Sedgemoor fm’s YouTube channel:
Watch the new episodes:
https://youtu.be/woONHvInWx4